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Major Players in the Green Building Movement

An excerpt from “The World at Home: A Household Guide to Building”
By Laura McCarthy, Program Associate
 Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, 2007 www.cectoxic.org

Green Building is everywhere! This list highlights some of the key programs, organizations, and websites and where you can find more information.

  • The U.S. federal government has several programs in place, including guidance for environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP); recycled-content rules in the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines; the ENERGY STAR program for products and buildings; and an initiative in the Department of Agriculture promoting the use of bio-based products. http://www.ofee.gov/sb/policies.html , http://www.energystar.gov/  

  • State governments have programs to promote energy efficiency and to provide incentives for alternative energy systems.  In NY, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) provides services through the Energy $mart Program, and New York State Executive Order No. 111 provides green building guidelines for all State Executive Branch agencies, departments, public benefit corporations, and authorities. www.nyserda.org  

  • The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Rating System encourages the use of products and materials with a wide range of eco-friendly characteristics.  www.usgbc.org  

  • Non-profit organizations create and certify products that comply with certain environmental standards. Examples include Green Seal (for overall environmental performance) Green Guard (for safe indoor air emissions), and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for sustainably harvested lumber from certified forests. www.greenseal.org , www.greenguard.org , www.fsc.org  

  • For-profit certifiers, such as Scientific Certification Systems, can provide third-party certification for environmental claims.  www.scscertified.com  

  • Various publishers and online guides offer comprehensive green product directories. Examples include the GreenSpec Directory from BuildingGreen, Inc., and Oikos Green Building Source. www.buildinggreen.com, www.oikos.com  

Source: Adapted from Green Biz: Backgrounders