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The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Our community of leaders is working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.

     In our business of sustainable construction energy retro-fits, we go after the the 'low-hanging fruit' first. Nine time out of ten, it's the lighting system of a building or home. Think beyond compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) to the longer lasting, more efficient and cost effective lighting method know as Light Emitting Diode bulbs.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association dedicated to helping the building safety community and construction industry provide safe, sustainable and affordable construction through the development of codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes

US DOE Website- BECP develops and maintains free software and tools to support energy codes and standards, REScheck software for low-rise residential building energy code compliance, and the COMcheck software for commercial building energy code compliance, and conducts outreach and deployment activities related to energy codes and high-performance sustainably designed buildings

The State of Utah recently purchased an E-60bx thermal camera for my use in energy efficiency training and studies. Using a thermal camera for building diagnostics identifies many areas where energy efficiency can be improved. "The cheapest, cleanest, most sustainable energy is energy conserved"

The word "geothermal" is recognized to represent a sustainable, efficient energy source. This website is an great resource, the voice of the geothermal heat pump industry.

This organization is a resource for builders, architects, designers, and educators. They provide information, networking and solutions for geared toward sustainable energy solutions in the built environment. AND they are right here in Greenfield! I just used their Green Pages Directory to find a local manufacturer and installer of standing seam metal roofing.

ENERGY STAR for homes is a program recognizing homes built to a strict set of guidelines that are at least 15% more efficient than a home built to the minimum requirements of the current energy code. This is THE resource for information on this EPA program.

This is a page with instructions on how to build your own bamboo bike trailer. At the bottom there are additional links to other designs for utility trailers for bikes. I have borrowed the trailers that the Pedal People use in Northampton and they are great. You can haul up to 300 lbs and they don't compromise your stability much. The catch is that their trailers cost upwards of $450. There is a a significant community of enthusiasts that simply want to promote human power as an alternative to fossil fuel, and consequently you can find all of these trailer plans offered for free - some with Creative Commons licenses and others just there for the taking/sharing. It's great!

US Green Building Council is the governing body that founded, and maintains the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Thousands of residential and commercial buildings across the nation are being built to these specifications. Ratings such as Silver, Gold, and Platinum are awarded for buildings that meet the stringent energy saving design characteristics. The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Our community of leaders is working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation.

Some LEED Platinum Skyscrapers: Taipei 101: http://inhabitat.com/taiwains-taipei-101-skyscraper-crowned-the-worlds-tallest-leed-platinum-building/ Bank of America Building NYC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_America_Tower_(New_York_City) Shenzen's Horizontal Skyscraper: http://www.evolo.us/architecture/steven-holls-leed-platinum-horizontal-skyscraper/

Here's another reason why I love where I live. We have a progressive community college that is leading the way in practical education in sustainability fields. My friend and neighbor credits this program with giving him the skills to design and build his house using highly energy efficient methods. He had no prior experience either, and now he is a solar hot water installer. Here's my friend's blog that details their entire process. (I may venture into this one year program at GCC after I finish at UMass) http://spartanandhannah.wordpress.com/

Transition towns are movements that connect people through events and initiatives focused on growing local economies into sustainable and fulfilling communities. This is the Massachusetts ring. I think these kind of movements are inspiring because it is so morale building to connect locally and discuss what we are going to do in our humble little lives to make things better, rather than depend on big changes coming from places of power.

"Black Locust is a highly durable hardwood which requires no treatment and which can be used for a variety of indoor and outdoor purposes. As an alternative to treated lumber it is especially suitable for fence posts, outdoor furniture and decking." I just replaced the lead paint coated decking on my porch with wood from this mill. It is absolutely beautiful, will last a long time, and will leach nothing toxic into my soil. It didn't come from a tropical place across the globe, or even out of state, it's from the next town over.