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What is Green Building?
“The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value.” Teddy Roosevelt
Green Building is an integrated framework of design, construction, operations and demolition practices that encompasses the environmental, economic, and social impacts of buildings. Green building practices recognize the interdependence of the natural and built environments and seek to minimize the use of energy, water, and other natural resources and provide a healthy, productive indoor environment.
Green Building is a process to create buildings that minimize the use of resources, reduce harmful effects on the environment, and create healthier environments for people.
Green Buildings are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.
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Local Organizations
Green Building Institute www.greenbuildinginstitute.org
Fosters sustainable building practices through education and example.
USGBC Baltimore Chapter www.chapters.usgbc.org/baltimore
Dedicated to sustainable design and construction in the Baltimore region.
Baltimore AIA Committee on the Environment www.aiabalt.com/0_committees/0_COtE/COTE.htm
Promotes awareness of environmental issues and provides architects with an educational source for sustainable or “green” design.
Baltimore Green Week www.baltimoregreenweek.org
Celebrates sustainable living, working, and playing in Baltimore and Maryland.
Maryland Green Building Network www.dnr.state.md.us/ed/mdgbn
Numbering more than 3,000 individuals and affiliations, focuses on promoting and encouraging the design and construction of buildings, and the development of sites, in a manner that encourages efficient use of natural resources and raw materials, protects the environment, and promotes sustainable communities.
Clean Energy Partnership www.cleanenergypartnership.org
Non-partisan, not-for-profit business group centered on the vision of creating a cleaner, better future.
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Excellent Overview for Maryland
DNR “Greening 101” www.dnr.state.md.us/ed/rr.html. Quick summaries of basic components of green building and links to resources for further research.
Comprehensive Green Building Websites
Whole Building Design Guide www.wbdg.org is a web portal to a vast array of information.
Building Green www.buildinggreen.com is the best source of detailed, unbiased, well-researched information about green building, particularly materials and products.
High Performance Building Information www.nrel.gov/buildings is from the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), primarily focused on energy conservation in all sectors of construction, and also links to DOE’s High Performance Buildings Database of case studies.
Climate and Peak Oil
Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator www.usctcgateway.net/tool
Architecture 2030 www.architecture2030.org is a beautiful site on global warming and a challenge to make buildings carbon neutral by 2030.
Energy Bulletin www.energybulletin.net is a clearinghouse of articles on peak energy.
Oil Depletion Analysis Centre www.odac-info.org is a British site working to raise international public awareness and promote better understanding of the world's oil-depletion problem.
Greening Affordable Housing
Enterprise Foundation, Green Communities Program www.enterprisefoundation.org/resources/green/index.asp is an ambitious program of incentives and technical expertise to green affordable housing.
Global Green www.globalgreen.org/greenbuilding/index.html promotes greening affordable housing with advocacy, conferences, and technical expertise.
GreenHome (regional advocate) www.greenhome.org is based in D.C., provides advocacy, policy, training, and technical assistance to developers of affordable green housing.
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Local Green Construction Companies
Green Homes Blue Sky – Green Home Blue Sky is a sustainable housing and a healthy environment through energy conservation and green construction – energy audits & ratings, combustion appliannce testing, blower door assisted air sealing, insulation, and general contracting. Please Call for Appointment Phone: (301) 779-3168 www.greenhomesbluesky.com.
Baltimore Green Construction www.BaltimoreGreenConstruction.com is a full service builder and contractor, bringing the benefits of sustainable construction to clients who need custom homes, additions, renovations, or commercial spaces. Our mission is to provide Baltimore with high quality homes and buildings that respect the local community and honor its history, while protecting the earth’s natural environment. We are committed to a practical and affordable approach that will see you through every step of the project from design to build.
Green Residential
Overview and links www.ciwmb.ca.gov/GreenBuilding/Residential
Green Building Primer www.energybuilder.com/greenbld.htm is an excellent overview applying principles of high-performance, resource-efficient building to homes.
Building America www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/about.html is a private/public partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy promoting energy-efficient solutions for production housing.
Zero Energy Homes www.nrel.gov/buildings/zero_energy.html is from NREL’s website.
Lawncare Brochure (PDF) www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/lawncare.pdf
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Publications
Environmental Building News www.buildinggreen.com/ecommerce/ebn.cfm?
Environmental Design & Construction www.edcmag.com
Ecostructure www.eco-structure.com
Ecological Home Ideas www.ecologicalhomeideas.com
Natural Home www.naturalhomeandgarden.com
Blogs
Green Home Guide www.greenhomeguide.com
The Green Guide www.thegreenguide.com
World Changing www.worldchanging.com
Inhabitat www.inhabitat.com
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