Resources
Alternative/ Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Access is a widely recognized source for renewable energy news and information on the Internet.
The Source for Renewable Energy is a comprehensive online buyer's guide and business directory to more than 9,000 renewable-energy businesses and organizations worldwide.
Solar Energy International (SEI) offers hands-on workshops in solar, wind and water power and natural building technologies in 11 locations.
Passive Solar Energy 1 - a PDF file with good passive solar information.
Hydro Power
Montana Green Power A good site for information about hydro power.
Wind Power
American Wind Energy Association Since 1974, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has advocated the development of wind energy as a reliable, environmentally superior energy alternative in the United States and around the world.
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is a good informational site about wind energy.
Energy-efficient Appliances
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Provides information about the long-term energy costs of appliances, tax incentives, and directories of manufacturers.
Insulation
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) is a trade association of North American manufacturers of fiberglass, rock wool and slag wool insulation products. This site provides a wealth of information on the uses and benefits of these products from thermal comfort to public health.
Lighting
Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy An informational site about different types of energy-efficient lighting
Windows
Efficient Windows Collaboration This is a database of efficiency initiatives, including tax incentives, building-code changes and legislative initiatives. It provides unbiased information on the benefits of energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they work, and recommendations for their selection and use.
Financial Incentives
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy Information on state and federal tax incentives for solar electric and other renewables, alternative-fuels vehicles, and energy conservation.
Rocky Mountain Institute shows businesses, communities, individuals, and governments how to create more wealth and employment, protect and enhance natural and human capital, increase profit and competitive advantage, and enjoy many other benefits--largely by doing what they do far more efficiently.
Green Building Groups
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation's foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.
The Cleveland Green Building Coalition is a nonprofit organization created to inform civic, business and building industry leaders as well as the general public about the economic, health and aesthetic benefits of green building.
The Green Affordable Housing Coalition is a coalition of San Francisco Bay Area public-sector and private-sector professionals committed to incorporating green building practices into the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of affordable housing.
City of Oakland's Green Building Resource Center
The Green Building Association of Central Pennsylvania promotes environmentally responsible design, planning, construction, and operation of the built environment through education, outreach and networking.
The Northwest EcoBuilding Guild is an association of builders, designers, homeowners, tradespeople, manufacturers, suppliers and others interested in ecologically sustainable building.
Green Building Materials
Better Bricks -To help achieve sustainable, high performance buildings, BetterBricks is dedicated to raising awareness and demand for energy efficiency by sharing information and resources with the people who design, own and operate them.
Green Sage Sustainable building materials and furnishings
GreenSpec is BuildingGreen's product information service. It contains detailed listings for more than 1,800 environmentally preferable building products with descriptions, manufacturer information, and links to additional resources.
The Green Building Resource Guide is a database of over 600 green building materials and products selected specifically for their usefulness to the design and building professions, rather than merely their green material content.
Green Building Concepts supplies an information exchange on a more resource-and- energy-efficient lifestyle.
Greener Building is a site with personal expertise about products with the sustainable building community. It is a site dedicated to personal contributions about products and technologies as well as your personal wisdom about building in your area.
Green Homes for Sale is a marketplace for buying and selling green and healthy homes.
Glossary of Green Building Terms This glossary helps you to articulate sustainable and green building concepts commonly used in residential construction.
Energy and Environmental Building Association (EEBA) was formed to provide education and resources to transform the residential design, development and construction industries to profitably deliver energy efficiency and environmentally responsible buildings and communities.
The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative site holds definitions of terms relating to energy-efficient technologies and elements of green buildings.
PATH: Public Private Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology PATH is dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing.
Government Resources
Building Technology Center- Oak Ridge National Laboratory The premier U.S. research facility devoted to the development of technologies that improve the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of residential and commercial buildings.
Energy Information Portal A DOE website containing links to online documents about energy efficiency and renewable energy.
ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through energy efficiency.
The NC Solar Center and State Energy Office sponsor this database of case studies, tested techniques, strategies, and technologies.
Indoor Air Quality
U.S. EPA gives information about mold, air quality, asthma, and tips for how to handle mold in your home.
U.S. EPA provides this site as a guide about indoor air quality.
Mold1.net is a mold resource webpage giving more mold links.
Canada's Centre for Occupational Health and Safety provides more mold (or mould) advice.
The Occupational Health & Safety Office, under the U.S. Department of Labor, gives information about health and safety as it relates to indoor air quality.
California Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Program conducts and promotes the coordination of research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the causes, effects, extent, prevention and control of indoor pollution.
The American Indoor Air Quality Council promotes awareness, education, and certification in the field of Indoor Air Quality.
Smart Growth
Smart Growth Network (SGN) The U.S. EPA and several nonprofit and government organizations formed this network in 1996 to seek out new ways to grow that boost the economy, protect the environment, and enhance community vitality.
Smart Growth America is a coalition of national, state and local organizations working to improve the ways we plan and build the towns, cities and metro areas we call home.
The U.S. EPA provides this smart growth site.
The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education is a nonpartisan center for research and leadership training on Smart Growth and related land-use issues nationally and internationally.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is working on smart-growth solutions that can help curtail sprawl and build more sustainable communities for the 21st century.
Sustainable Site Planning
The Smart Communities Network offers great resources, tools, links to articles, publications, and community success stories on a variety of topics from community energy, to green development and sustainable business.
Publications
Enviromental Building News is a monthly newsletter published since 1992 featuring comprehensive, practical information on a range of topics related to sustainable design in the built environment.
"Good Energy at the Good Life Center" An article about the Good Life Center created by Scott and Helen Nearing
Home Power Magazine Comprehensive coverage of solar, wind, and micro hydro electricity, home energy efficiency, solar hot-water systems, space heating and cooling, green building materials and home design, efficient transportation and more.
Environmental Design and Construction Magazine is a bi-monthly magazine that reports on the innovative products, strategies and technologies that are driving the green building industry's success.
World Changing An online source for news on sustainable efforts.
Local Resources
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association This non-profit association works to create a sustainable energy future in North Carolina through the promotion of renewable energy technologies including solar, wind, micro hydro, geothermal, biofuels and energy efficiency.
PO Box 6465
Raleigh, NC 27628-6465
(919) 832-7601
ncsea@mindspring.com
www.ncsustainableenergy.org/index.html
North Carolina Solar Center serves as a clearinghouse for solar and other renewable-energy programs, information, research, technical assistance, and training for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond.
Box 7401
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7401
(800) 33-NCSUN
www.ncsc.ncsu.edu
The WNC Alliance is a democratic grassroots organization that addresses the critical issues affecting the future of our region.
29 North Market Street, Suite 610
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone (828) 258-8737
Fax (828) 258-9141
Info@wnca.org
www.main.nc.us/wnca
WNC Regional Air Quality AgencyThe Mission of the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency is to protect and monitor the area's air quality to safeguard the public health, safety, and to protect the environment.
49 Mount Carmel Road
Asheville NC
(828) 255-5655
Fax: (828) 255-5226
www.wncair.org
North Carolina Green Building Technology Database Case studies of green building techniques, strategies and technologies. www.ncgreenbuilding.org/site/ncg/index.cfm
