Green Design Resources
Following are some links with information about various approaches to sustainable design, please feel free to contact us with any questions.
Green Design Links
Rating Systems
Passive House is a certification system and set of design principles based on a quantifiable and rigorous level of energy efficiency. “Maximize your gains, minimize your losses” summarizes the approach.
https://phmass.org/what-is-passive-house/
LEED for Homes: Anne is a LEED Accredited Professional (LEEP AP)
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.
The Zero Energy Project is a non-profit educational organization whose goal is to help home buyers, builders, designers, and real estate professionals take meaningful steps towards radically reducing carbon emissions and energy bills by building zero net energy homes and near zero energy homes.
International Living Future Institute (ILFI):
The ILFI's Living Building Challenge is a green building certification program and sustainable design framework that visualizes the ideal for the built environment.
National Green Building Standard (NGBS):
The NGBS was developed in a partnership with the ASHRAE, the International Code Council (ICC), and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to provide a uniform national platform for recognizing and advancing green residential construction.
The Home Energy Rating System (HERS):
The HERS Index is the nationally recognized scoring system for measuring a home’s energy performance.
ENERGY STAR is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions.
Building Science Websites
Since 1985, BuildingGreen has been a trusted source on healthy and sustainable design and construction strategies.
Green Building Advisor is dedicated to providing the most useful, accurate, and complete information about designing, building, and remodeling energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthy homes.
A free online resource owned and operated by Building Science Corporation, BuildingScience.com is full of articles, research papers, and case studies focused on the design and construction of buildings that are healthier, less energy-consuming, and more durable and economical.
Homeowner's Guide to going Solar
An overview of the process adding solar to your home
www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar
Green Product Sources
Habitat for Humanity ReStores are nonprofit home improvement stores and donation centers that sell new and gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials and more to the public at a fraction of the retail price.
475 High Performance Building Supply
475 provides essential building knowledge and components to help make more durable, resilient, ecological, and energy-efficient buildings that optimize occupant comfort and health.
EFI offers high quality products that help people to use our planet’s limited energy and water resources wisely.