Green Building Programs

The goal of sustainable design is to ultimately improve building performance by reducing negative environmental impact and protecting and the health and comfort of building occupants.

Several resources are available to encourage smart design and make it more profitable for American businesses. More information is available from the following sites:

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

The LEED Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary program for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED provides a national standard for every sector of the building industry, with a comprehensive system that will help companies meet their sustainability goals.

Outlines for developing green buildings, project certification, professional accreditation, training and other resources are available through the LEED program by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Greener Buildings

GreenerBuildings.com is a comprehensive, web-based resource for environmentally responsible building development. The site provides free, easy access to information such as case studies, calculators and design guides.

The site is backed by the National Environmental Education and Training Foundation (NEETF), a private, nonprofit organization for advancing environmental education. Greener Buildings was designed to help companies align environmental responsibility with business success.