Green Building Resources

Green Building in Practice

In practical terms, green building includes:

  • Using sun and wind to the building’s advantage for natural heating, cooling, and day lighting
  • Landscaping with native plants and using water efficiently
  • Building quality, durable structures
  • Insulating well and ventilating appropriately
  • Incorporating salvaged, recycled, and sustainably harvested materials
  • Maintaining healthy indoor air quality with appropriate building techniques and materials
  • Using energy-efficient and water-saving appliances and fixtures
  • Reducing and recycling construction waste

Green Halo Systems

  • Free web-based service for waste diversion and recycling tracking
  • Establish, monitor, and document their waste management plan and compliance online
  • Tracks construction and demolition debris diversion rate from the landfill and carbon footprint savings

Build It Green

  • Continuing education and networking for public agencies, non-profits, and building professionals
  • Listing of certified green architects and building contractors
  • Materials Database: extensive listing of green products, materials, and technologies available in the Bay Area.
  • Fact sheets, referrals, case studies, events listings, green building links, and in-depth information on green building materials and strategies
  • Green Home Tours, workshops, and presentations

Build Green Now

  • Green building resources for the general public, design and building professionals, and public agencies
  • Green Building Guidelines for renovations and new construction that have been adopted by or serve as the basis for many green building programs in the San Francisco Bay Area

United States Green Building Council (USGBC)

  • Extensive collection of green building resources: market research, publications, presentations, and links to additional resources
  • LEED ® Rating System information: case studies, training, certification, workshops

Flex Your Power

  • Energy efficiency and conservation information for California:
    • Agriculture
    • Business
    • Industry
    • Local governments
    • Residents
    • Schools
  • Case studies and more
  • Incentives / rebates
  • Product guides
  • Retailers
  • Technical assistance

Water Wiser

  • Calendar of events
  • Discussion forums
  • Information
  • News
  • References
  • Research results
  • Searchable databases
  • Targeted to water conservation professionals, but freely accessible to the general public
  • Links to Water Saver Home - a virtual encyclopedia of water saving tips for indoor and outdoor uses

EPA Water Efficiency Program

  • Extensive info and resources on how to use water more efficiently
  • Applicable to all water users from homeowners to governments

EPA Indoor Air Quality

  • Extensive info and resources on indoor air quality
  • Indoor Air Quality information: hotline to help locate the appropriate information, 800-438-4318

Health House

  • For Consumers: information on Indoor Air Quality concerns and tip sheets to help identify and reduce pollutants in the home
  • For Builders: guidelines and Registered House Builder training for building homes with better Indoor Air Quality