Green Building Information Resources Use these resources for more information and education about green building.

By Marjie O'Connor One of the concerns some builders have about green building is that if they decided to start building green, they have to take it all the way. That's not the case, according to Ron Jones, owner of Sierra Custom Builders in Placitas, N.M. (See 'Busted! Eight Green Building Myths'.) All general contractors building to code are already using green-building products, such as low-flow plumbing fixtures and the new high-efficiency HVAC systems. All builders and remodelers can decide just how green they want to be. To put it in literal terms, the level of intensity can range from a pale green (think mint ice cream) all the way to deepest forest green (think ... well, think deep forest.) There is plenty of help available to anyone interested in green building—contractors and consumers alike. The list on this page represents only a few of those with a national scope; there are many others that focus on local and regional green-building issues. These organizations provide both home builders and homeowners with excellent basic information, such as tips on water conservation, as well as more sophisticated approaches to green building, including building a zero-energy house that generates all of its own energy needs. The websites of these organizations also have more links to other green-building programs and publications. Be sure to take advantage of as many—or as few—as you like. Building America U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse U.S. Department of Energy Phone 877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463) E-mail eereic@ee.doe.gov Energy and Environmental Building Association 10740 Lyndale Avenue South, Suite 10W Bloomington, MN 55420-5615 Phone 952-881-1098 Fax 952-881-3048 E-mail information@eeba.org Environmental Protection Agency Green Buildings Cate Berard US EPA (7409M) 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20460 Phone: 202-564-8847 Fax 202-564-8899 E-mail berard.cate@epa.gov Forest Stewardship Council 1155 30th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20007 Phone 202-342-0413 Fax 202-342-6589 E-mail info@fscus.org Green Building Initiative 222 SW Columbia St., Ste. 1800 Portland, OR 97201 Phone 877-GBI.GBI1 Fax 503-961-8991 Email: info@thegbi.org Green Building Institute 7761 Waterloo Road, Jessup, MD 20794 Phone 443-733-1234 Fax 443-733-1219 National Association of Home Builders 1201 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone 800-368-5242; 202-266-8200 x0 Fax 202-266-8400 NAHB Green Building Conference Office of the Registrar The NAHB University of Housing 1201 15th Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 Phone 800-368-5242 x8338 Fax 202-266-8501 E-mail registrar@nahb.com NAHB Research Center 400 Prince George's Boulevard Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 Phone 800-638-8556 or 301-249-4000 Fax 301-430-6180 Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing A partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and leaders of private businesses in the homebuilding, product manufacturing, insurance and financial industries. U.S. Green Building Council U.S. Green Building Council 1015 18th Street, NW, Suite 508 Washington, DC 20036 Phone (202) 82-USGBC or 828-7422 Fax (202) 828-5110 Email info@usgbc.org RELATED ARTICLES: What Is Green Building? Busted! Eight Green-Building Myths How To Get Started Building Green