Green resources | Here is some help to get you started

Interest in living green has grown tremendously in recent years, along with places to turn for information. Here is a sampling of resources. Most of the Web sites have links to other resources, as do many of the individual stories in this special section.

CONSTRUCTION

American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment
www.aia.org/cote_about
The committee advocates practices that improve design and environmental performance of buildings.

Built Green
www.builtgreen.net
A nonprofit program developed by the Master Builders Association of Snohomish and King Counties in partnership with those counties. One of its main functions is to certify residential and commercial products based on a set of environmentally friendly guidelines.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
www.epa.gov/greenbuilding
Gateway to federal information on green building and sustainable development.

Northwest EcoBuilding Guild
www.ecobuilding.org
An association of builders, designers, homeowners, tradespeople, manufacturers and suppliers that offers Green Pages for finding sustainable building contractors, suppliers and other green building providers.

City of Seattle
www.seattle.gov/dpd/GreenBuilding/
City of Seattle's site with information about green building programs, incentives and assistance.

Sensible House
www.sensiblehouse.org
A local project that helps people to build "in a more environmentally friendly way."

Southface Energy Institute
www.southface.org
This Atlanta-based organization promotes ways to save energy, conserve water and preserve the environment through education, research, advocacy and technical assistance.

U.S. Green Building Council
www.usgbc.org
A national nonprofit group in the building industry that oversees the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green-building rating system.

ENERGY

American Solar Energy
Society
www.ases.org
This nonprofit provides information on getting started with solar energy and how to make homes more energy efficient.

Puget Sound Energy
www.pse.com
Puget Sound Energy offers customers tools to analyze and trim utility bills at "For your home."

City of Seattle
www.seattle.gov/conserve/homeprofile
Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities customers can get a free detailed report called the Home Resource Profile that dissects utility bills and explains how to save money and shrink carbon footprint.

LANDSCAPE

American Society of Landscape Architects
www.asla.org
Under "residential information," the site offers tips on creating a green landscape for homes, as well as a "firm finder" to locate architects in your area.

In Harmony
www.inharmony.com/about_us.html
A landscape company serving the Puget Sound region that provides design, installation and care of landscapes "that are healthy for people, pets and the environment."

PRODUCTS

Energy Star
www.energystar.gov
Energy Star seal of approval for popular appliances that use 10 to 50 percent less energy or water than the federal standard.

Forest Stewardship Council
www.fsc.org
Certifies wood and wood products and promotes responsible forest management. Its certification ensures wood is harvested sustainably and then tracks the wood through manufacturing to the store. Considered the leading standard for responsible forestry management.

Green Seal
www.greenseal.org
Nonprofit group independently tests household products to meet its environmental standards.

PUBLICATIONS

BuildingGreen
www.buildinggreen.com
Publishers of Environmental Building News, a monthly newsletter on environmentally-responsible design and construction.

Green Source
www.greensourcemag.com
Led by a team of architects, owners, engineers and consultants, this magazine examines sustainable design across the nation.

Ultimate Home Design
www.ultimatehomedesign.com
Consumer and trade magazine's goal is to serve as a "design and build resource for environmentally enhanced" living.

RECYCLING

GreenTools
www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/greenbuilding/
The GreenTools site of King County's Solid Waste Division includes certification programs, construction and demolition recycling and reuse, deconstruction techniques and incentives.