Green Resources

United States Green Building Council

About the United States Green Building Council (USGBC)

• The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings
• USGBC developed the LEED green building certification system is the preeminent program for rating the design, construction and operation of green buildings
• LEED, or Leadership in Energy an Environmental Design provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions

Green Home Guide - USGBC’s residentially focused site has a wealth of information on how to make your home greener and connect with the resources and green building professionals in your area. Be sure to check out Green Retrofit Checklist to discover how you can start living in a greener, healthier home today.

USGBC Website:
USGBC Homepage
Information About LEED

Regreen

About Regreen

• The REGREEN program was created through a partnership between the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
• The REGREEN guidelines address the major elements of any green renovation project, including the site of the home, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, material and resources, and indoor environmental quality. 
• The guidelines blend product selection, building systems integration and proven technologies into a seamless compilation of green strategies and case studies for the homeowner, builder and design professional. The REGREEN guidelines can be applied to a variety of home projects, from remodeling a kitchen to adding a major addition, from redoing a back yard to executing a gut rehab. Homeowners can either use the guidelines for their own do-it-yourself projects or visit with a professional who can apply REGREEN as a design guideline.
• The program has grown to include a series of other remodeling resources, presentations, educational offerings, and the website.
• Professionals can also demonstrate their mastery of REGREEN principles and practices by completing REGREEN coursework and receiving a REGREEN Trained certificate of completion.

Regreen has created a checklist to help make sure a product is green. You can view it here or on their webpage: Green Product Checklist

Regreen Website:

Regreen Homepage

Directory of Regreen Trained Professionals

Other Organization/Programs

ASID

ASID has many resources for interior designers seeking to incorporate sustainable design principles into their practice.

Green Building Advisor

The folks at Green Building Advisor are a rich resource for building, designing and remodeling green homes and an integral part of the team that created REGREEN. Explore the abundance of green information free of charge, with the option to dig deeper into green building resources and strategies as a site member.

Energy Star Program

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star Program. Energy efficient appliance choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort.

Energy Savers

The Department of Energy offers extensive information on how to save energy and increase home performance at their Energy Savers website.

Healthy House Institute

The Healthy House Institute® (HHI) provides consumers information to make their homes healthier. HHI strives to be the most comprehensive educational resource available for creating healthier homes

Energy Efficient Mortgages Program

The federal Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) program allows homeowners to add the cost of energy-efficient home improvements to their existing mortgage. Find out more about EEMs at http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm and http://www.mortgageloan.com/environment

The Solar Tribune

The Solar Tribune offers exteinsive information on solar panels and solar thermal energy systems for homeowners.)