Build a Green Home:

Earl's found a new forum that looks like it has a lot of potential. They are certainly full of ideas and enthusiasm. Learn and share what Super Energy Efficient (SEE) housing is all about, and how it goes far beyond most “energy efficient housing” being built in the U.S. today. Importantly, the concepts behind SEE housing can be easily applied to existing as well as new homes. Our homes and offices use 40% of the total energy consumed in the U.S. Building new and converting our existing buildings to SEE standards can conservatively cut that in half - meaning a 20+% reduction in U.S. energy use. There are many compelling reasons why SEE housing will not be a choice, but a requirement for all future housing - - both new & existing.

Learn about green products and methods, find answers, products and people, and connect with other people at GreenBuildingTALK.

Green Materials:

The online GreenSpec® Directory from BuildingGreen.com lists product descriptions for over 2,000 environmentally preferable products. To choose these products their editors conduct their own research based on GreenSpec's current editorial focus. Thus not all product suggestions they receive are selected for review. This independent research ensures that the product descriptions contain unbiased, quality information. Unlike many other directories, they do not charge for listings or sell ads.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was created to change the dialogue about and the practice of sustainable forestry worldwide. Many architects and builders are using FSC-certified wood in their projects as a means of demonstrating their own commitment to the environment. LEED is one important driver for this but there are many other green building programs across the nation that encourage the use of FSC-certified wood. FSC-US is committed to providing quality education and service to the green building community.

New Construction Considerations:

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

HEED: Home Energy Efficient Design. See how much energy and money you can save by making various design or remodeling changes to your home with this new easy-to-use program. You can draw in the floor plan of your own house, then click and drag your windows to their correct location. You can select from lists of typical wall and roof construction. For advanced users there are more detailed design data input options and output display graphics from the original Solar-5. HEED self installs as a standalone program on everything from Windows 98 to Windows XP and Macintosh OS X 10.4 or later*. HEED also runs in Spanish (see HEED en Espanol icon).

Whole-House Energy Checklist from the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EERE) lists 50 key items to consider in designing your energy-efficient home.

Sustainable (Green) building basics from the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Some good information and references.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Our more than 15,000 member organizations and our network of 75 regional chapters are united to advance our mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability.

The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is a not for profit organization whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of building practices that result in energy-efficient, healthier and environmentally sustainable buildings by promoting credible and practical green building approaches for residential and commercial construction. Click here for a virtual training series "Best Green Building Practices."

ToolBase Services is the housing industry's resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems.

The Westbrook house in Fairview, TX was designed with four major goals: energy-efficiency, environmental friendliness, and low maintenance, and cost effectiveness.  Result is a passive solar design with active solar water heating.

Welcome to greenhomebuilding.com where you can find a wide range of information about sustainable architecture and natural building.

Building Environmental Science and Technology (B.E.S.T.) provides affordable consulting services to designers, builders, building owners, owner-builders, producers and users of renewable energy, government agencies, and non-profit groups. We help you implement environmental building projects focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, green materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.



Learn more about Earthships.

The Energy Efficient House, Richard Crume, Solar Today Magazine Sep/Oct 2005 

Home Designers:

Have you been dreaming about that perfect green home that is welcoming, cozy, and provides for all of your housing needs, while also allowing you to live lightly on our earth? DreamGreenHomes.com can help you discover a home plan that matches your needs and aesthetics, in a way that will conserve energy and resources.

Zero Energy Design - Life is best enjoyed in environments designed to fit you, your personality, and your lifestyle. Health and sustainability should be integral pieces of a home—not an optional “add-on”. Technology should make your life better through simplicity, not complication. Let ZED create your dream home.

A Sunlight Home is a wonderfully comfortable, highly energy efficient home with abundant day lighting, custom designed in direct response to your personal design needs, your aesthetic tastes, your building site and its solar orientation and your building budget.

Michelle Kaufmann Designs is a full service architectural design firm that specializes in sustainable, innovative, high quality design. We believe that sustainable, well-designed buildings should be accessible to more people. To achieve this we have simplified our process and chosen off-site modular technology as our only means to create beautiful, eco-friendly homes. Our hope is that, through our practice, we will make it easy for people to build green and live a more sustainable life. We are making a difference one home at a time one family at a time.

 

Home Builders:

Green Home Builder For Today’s Fine Homes magazine is mailed to over 22,000 homebuilding professionals, architects, interior designers and design centers throughout the United States. Now in its ninth year, Green Home Builder is the only homebuilder's magazine focused on the options and upgrades market for the national residential building industry>

Built Green - Seattle area green homebuilders.

Jeffery Harrington Homes - a Houston area custom home builder.

CHB Custom Homes since 2005 bringing Energy Efficiency awareness to Thomasville, Valdosta and South Georgia areas has not been effortless. We are content that others are joining us and following our lead in bringing energy awareness and actions to our community and surrounding areas. We at CHB Homes would like to thank those that have joined in our efforts for a greener future not only locally but in a bigger scale reaching out to our leaders urging them to take climate change seriously.

Green Home, Inc. has been building homes in Asheville, NC for over 10 years.  Preferring the hands-on approach, they are immersed in the building process from every angle, from designing the green features, finding the right materials, to overseeing the work performed.

Build Green NM lists Green home builders in New Mexico.

WELCOME TO THINK GREEN HOMES®   A Universal Design concept. This is the home of guaranteed energy efficiency with up to 70 percent savings on cooling and heating!—Energy design, structural insulated panel green home building means enduring performance and beauty.

Home Plans:

Sun Plans is proud to be a PATH Partner. The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (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.