Resources: Chapter 24

LOCAL LINKS

Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)
Invents and implements new tools and methods to create livable urban communities for everyone. Provides CityNews, Community Information Technology, the Neighborhood Early Warning System and Chicago tax assessment data on specific properties.

Environmental Community Organization
Committed to limiting the amount of toxic chemicals released into the environment by companies.

Environmental Protection Agency: Local Regional Office
The local regional office of the EPA in downtown Chicago.

Farr Associates
Architecture, Planning, Environmental Design.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)
Runs the hazardous waste collection program, as well as works with small businesses to assist them in complying with environmental regulations.

The Energy Detectives
The Energy Detectives at Informed Energy Decisions are on the case to help you lower utility bills, increase comfort levels, and add value to your building.

Tomacor
Long-time leader in home inspections in Chicago, providing home buyers and property owners with better information to make better decisions.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL LINKS

American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)
Offers a product and resource directory.

American Solar Energy Society
Advances the use of solar energy to benefit people and the environment.

Building Green
Offers a detailed listing of more than 1,800 environmentally building products, with descriptions, manufacturer information, and links to additional resources.

Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST)
Information regarding sustainable living and design, including green products and practices, environmental planning, and case studies.

Community Energy Cooperative
Nonprofit membership organization helping consumers and communities obtain information and services they need to control energy costs.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Independent federal regulatory agency that conducts research, develops product standards, orders recalls, and provides information to the public about a variety of consumer products.

DOE: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
Provides access to hundreds of web sites and thousands of online documents on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Earth 911
Offers extensive resources about recycling.

Energy and Environmental Building Association
Promotes energy-efficient, environmentally responsible buildings.

Energy Star
Provides information and listings of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly equipment such as washers and dryers.

Environmental Assessment Association (EAA)
An international organization dedicated to providing members with information and education in the environmental industry relating to environmental inspections, testing, and other areas.

Environmental Building News
Articles, reviews and news stories on energy and resource building practices and healthy buildings.

Environmental Design and Construction Magazine
Articles, news stories, reviews and technical documents on green building and remodeling.

Environmental Health Information Services (EHIS)
Posts the website of Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the discussion of the effects of the environment on human health.

Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC)
A midwest public interest environmental advocacy organization working to achieve cleaner energy resources and implement sustainable energy strategies.

Environmental Scorecard
Source for accessing local environmental information, including pollution. Profiles 6,800 chemicals, making it easy to find out where they are used and how hazardous they are.

Florida Green Building Coalition
Nonprofit dedicated to improving the built environment.

Florida Solar Energy Center
A research institute for the University of Florida.

Forest Certification Resource Center
Comprehensive resource on forest management and product certification.

Forest Stewardship Council
Changes the dialogue on and practice of sustainable forestry worldwide.

Global Green
Offers extensive articles and information about green building.

Green Blue
A catalyst to transform the production of goods.

Green Projects Specifications
CSI MasterFormat explains and identifies areas to incorporate environmental specifications into a project.

Green Roofs
Website on vegetative roofs. Topics include an introduction to eco-roofs, their history, technical information, plant lists, and case studies.

Green Seal
Strives to achieve a healthier and cleaner environment by promoting eco-friendly products and services, resource and habitat conservation, and minimization of global warming and ozone depletion.

Greenbuilder.com
Offers extensive resources and information on sustainable building and design, including several source books and directories.

GreenGuard Environmental Institute
Certifies low-emitting interior products.

GreenGuard Product Guide
Offers a guide for selecting low-emitting products and materials.

GreenSage
Online resource for green and sustainable building materials and furnishings.

Hardwood Information Center
Offers information and resources about U.S. hardwoods and hardwood products, including information on green and sustainable building products.

Indoor Environment Program
Conducts research to reduce the energy used for thermal conditioning, distribute ventilation air in buildings, and provide good indoor air quality.

Indoor Environmental Quality (CDC/NIOSH)
Resources, documents and topics on workplace IAQ.

International Solar Energy Society (ISES)
UN-accredited NGO present in more than 50 countries.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
The complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals.

Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines
Multipurpose design tool focused on sustainable building design issues.

NYCOSH: "The Clipping File"
More than 150 links to news items about safety and health, arranged by topic and chronologically within a topic. Topics include asbestos, cancer, reproductive hazards and much, much more.

Oikos
Searchable database of green building products, with a broad selection of books and publications on green building.

Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)
Dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, efficiency, performance, and affordability of America's housing.

PVC Alternatives Database
This Greenpeace database, designed for do-it-yourselfers and professional builders, offers information and resources on available alternatives to PVCs.

Scientific Certification Systems
Established in 1984 as the nation's first third-party certifier for testing pesticide residues in fresh produce. The company has evolved to become a certifier of multiple facets of the food industry and of environmentally sound management.

SmartWood
Through independent auditing, certification and the promotion of certified forest products, SmartWood improves forest management by providing economic incentives to businesses that practice responsible forestry.

Smoke Tube
MSA's ventilation smoke tube kits are for use where controlled generation of visible smoke is desired in order to determine the velocity of slow-moving air currents and establish their direction and flow patterns in shafts, mines and tunnels.

Solar Energy Industries Association
Information on contractors, incentives for buying solar, and policy initiatives.

Solar Energy International
Provides education and technical assistance through on-site workshops and online courses.

Solar Energy Topics
Solar Energy 101 from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tips for Daylighting
California Institute for Energy Efficiency and U.S. Department of Energy Website that presents guidelines for daylighting, quick references for designers, rules-of-thumb, and how-to's.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Coalition promoting environmentally responsible buildings.

Urban Land Institute (ULI)
Provides reasonable leadership in the use of land to enhance the total environment.

Water and Energy
A northwest-based resource on implementing energy technologies and practices.

Water and Waste Water
Information on water recycling and reuse. Has an extensive resource list on water and wastewater.

Water Wiser
Offers extensive information, articles and links on water efficiency, irrigation, grey water harvesting, etc.

Waterless Urinals
The title says it all!

Xeriscape: Greenbuilder.com
Xeriscaping is a landscaping method that conserves water and protects the environment.

Xeriscaping
Information on a form of landscape design that minimizes the use of water and chemicals in the designing of landscapes.