Green Links of Interest

Alliance to Save Energy The Alliance to Save Energy promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security. Energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to extend our world's energy supplies. Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator This Excel® spread sheet is a great finance tool that helps calculate the cost of delaying an energy efficiency project.  It addresses: 1) how much equipment can be purchased from energy savings, 2) whether it is better to finance the energy project now, or wait for funds from a future budget, and 3) whether the lowest interest rate is the better deal. Catalyst Financial Group is a co-developer of this and provided most of the algorithms used in this practical marketing tool. It was funded by EPA ENERGY STAR and is in the public domain (see free trainings). Carbohydrate Economy Clearinghouse (CEC) Provides up-to-date information spanning all facets of the carbohydrate economy. From paints and inks to fuels and construction materials, the CEC will provide one-stop shopping for the latest developments in the new materials economy. Community-Based Environmental Protection (CBEP) Integrates environmental management with human needs, considers long-term ecosystem health and highlights the positive correlations between economic prosperity and environmental well-being. Danish Wind Industry Association (DWIA) The Danish Wind Industry Association (DWIA) is a non-profit association whose purpose is to promote wind energy at home and abroad. They have a wonder primer on wind energy you can view at http://www.windpower.org/movies/uabl/uablen.htm. ENERGY STAR® Please see "US EPA ENERGY STAR®" ENERGY STAR Internet Trainings ENERGY STAR offers free online training and presentations to help you improve the energy performance of your organization.  Trainings include "Money for your Energy Upgrades," "An Introduction to the Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator," an Excel® spreadsheet, "Leveraging the Financial Value of ENERGY STAR," and many more. Energy Services Coalition The Energy Services Coalition (ESC) provides information and resources to help you develop an energy performance contract that meets your needs. ESC members include state energy offices, energy service companies (ESCOs) and other energy professionals. Energy Services Coalition is a Strategic Partner of Rebuild America, a program of the U.S. Department of Energy. Environmental Building News Probably the best environmental resource in periodical form out there right now. This monthly newsletter, aimed at environmentally responsible design and construction, provides focused "no frills" information. It examines through in-depth scholarly research, the pros and cons of various environmental building options and products. In our view, this is required reading, every month, cover to cover—and with no advertisements, it’s a bargain with yearly subscriptions ranging from $99 to $199, depending on the size of the subscribing organization. EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is a federal-wide program that encourages and assists Executive agencies in the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services. E-SOURCE Pricey but technically reliable source on everything green in building.  A favorite of electric utilities and state energy offices. Global Action Plan Global Action Plan is a nonprofit organization, based in Woodstock NY, with a decade of experience in designing and delivering citizen and neighborhood empowerment programs for municipalities throughout the United States. The GAP program emphasizes environmental quality, public safety and improved neighborhood relationships. Green Buildings Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Green Buildings web site. Green Building Alliance Pittsburgh's public interest specialist in all matters of green building, the GBA offers a library of source materials, weekly seminars and workshops on green building, and consulting to public projects on green building techniques and process. The JG Press, Inc. Online In Business magazine - readable examples of green business and green building National Association of Energy Service Companies Good source of information about industry standards and contact information for national energy services companies (ESCO).  An ESCO is a business that develops, installs, and finances projects designed to improve the energy efficiency and maintenance costs for facilities over a seven to 10 year time period. ESCOs generally act as project developers for a wide range of tasks and assume the technical and performance risk associated with the project. National Wind Coordinating Committee The NWCC's web site is an excellent source of consensus technical and policy information on the wind industry. NativeEnergy NativeEnergy helps develop domestic renewable energy resources, featuring Native American projects, which create social, economic and environmental benefits. In addition, they can help procure green energy supplies, develop and manage green pricing programs, develop and negotiate green tag and power phttp://www.rmi.orgurchase agreements, and, design green energy marketing and sales programs. OIKOS Green Building Source Vital source for news, publications, and REDI Database search tool for researching green building products and materials. A Primer on Sustainable Building, published by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) This easily understood book provides one of the most comprehensive introductions to the principles of sustainable design and construction available, and was published in 1995 by one of the nation’s leading proponents of environmental sensitivity—no "greenwash" here. Real Goods Trading Company A fun catalog of everything you can buy green for the home and office, with info on how to do green Rebuild America Please see "US Department of Energy (DOE): Rebuild America" Resources for Human Development Resources For Human Development, Inc. (RHD) is a large, diversified social service nonprofit organization, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, currently sponsoring human service programs in a total of nine states. Since 1970, RHD has quietly provided essential business services behind the scenes of many service programs. The organization currently sponsors over 130 human service programs that provide a wide range of services that impact the lives of approximately 10,000 people in need each year. Programs range from providing residential services for homeless persons and for individuals with mental illness, mental retardation and chemical addiction, to programs that provide job training, assisted transportation services and crisis intervention. Social Venture Network Social Venture Network (SVN) is a nonprofit network committed to building a just and sustainable world through business. SVN promotes new models and leadership for socially and environmentally sustainable business in the 21st century, through initiatives, information services and forums that strengthen empower members to work together on behalf of their shared vision. SVN, members strive to improve their own "triple bottom line" performance for people, planet and profits. Solstice Solstice is the Internet information service of the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST), and is your site for Sustainable Energy and Development Information. It features everything about renewable power. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company's study on daylighting in schools The cited page contains links to a series of related daylighting studies, addressing increased business efficiencies. The Company offers a full and condensed verison of the school report, in pdf version US Department of Energy (DOE): Federal Energy Management Program A valuable source for obtaining DOE publications, videos, Compact Discs, and case study information, all at no cost—not even for postage. US Department of Energy (DOE): Rebuild America  Rebuild America program focuses on energy-savings solutions as community solutions. The program began in 1994 with the mission to accelerate energy-efficiency improvements in existing commercial, institutional and multifamily residential buildings through private-public partnerships created at the community level. Today Rebuild America is helping communities across the country sort though an often overwhelming array of options for building improvements and develop and implement an Action Plan that meet their needs. US EPA The EPA offers a number of almost independent web sites addressing green building issues. US EPA ENERGY STAR® ENERGY STAR means energy efficiency. Check out the multiple products, resources and tools offered to improve the energy performance of your organization. All market sectors will benefit from visiting this site. US EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing EPP is a federal-wide program that encourages and assists Executive agencies in the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services US EPA high performance schools program, indoor air quality The sub-site of the EPA website provides case studies, tips and other resources on improving the environment of our schools. US Green Building Council Authors and publishers of the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, the nation’s first and most comprehensive design tool for evaluating environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective.