Green Resources & Links

Sustainability at The University of Texas at Austin

• Catalog of Historic and Significant Campus Interiors New!
• Campus Sustainability Policy
• Office of Sustainability
• Center for Sustainable Development
• Center for the Science and Practice of Sustainability
• Center for Energy and Environmental Resources
• Environmental Science Institute
• Office of Environmental Heath and Safety
• Campus Environmental Center
• UTakeCharge
• Green Printing at UT Document Solutions
• Facilities Services — Sustainability
• UT’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory
• Housing and Food Services — Environment

Green Building

• Building Green
• US EPA, Green Building
• US Green Building Council
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System
• Whole Building Design Guide
• Austin Energy Green Building Program
• Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems
• GREENGUARD Environmental Institute and Certification
• Cradle-to-Cradle Certification
• ENERGY STAR

Higher Education Sustainability

• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE)
• Higher Education Sustainability Act

Green Building Resources

• AASHE: The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education brings together colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada to promote sustainability in all sectors of higher education through education, communication, research and professional development. The Web site is a clearinghouse for sustainability efforts, and the AASHE Resource Center is a rich source of information on campus sustainability. Log in to view resources using your .edu e-mail address.
• Austin Energy Green Building Program: The Austin Energy Green Building program Web site includes links to commercial and residential green building resources, case studies, rebates, loans and workshops.
• BuildingGreen: BuildingGreen, LLC is an independent publishing company bringing green design information to its members. BuildingGreen gives access to Environmental Building News, the GreenSpec directory of green products, and the BuildingGreen Suite of online tools. Resources include sample specifications, green product information (by CSI division and LEED credit), and comprehensive articles on green building issues and topics.
• Cradle-to-Cradle Design Certification: Cradle-to-Cradle Certification provides building product manufacturers with a credible means of measuring achievement in environmentally-intelligent design. If a candidate product achieves the necessary criteria, it is certified as a Silver, Gold or Platinum product. Certified products are listed by rating, company name, and product type.
• GREENGUARD Environmental Institute: GEI is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Programs. “GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality” and “GreenGuard for Children — Schools” programs certify building products, finishes and furnishings as low-emitting and/or microbial resistant. The Web site lists GREENGUARD-certified products by product category, manufacturer and type. LEED Materials — Resources credits require products that are GREENGUARD certified.
• Harvard Green Building Resource: Harvard is documenting experience and knowledge gained from 17 certified LEED projects and another 37 pending certification. The Harvard Green Building Resource fosters continuous improvement in cost-effective green building design. The resource includes LEED submittals and documentation used on Harvard’s LEED projects including budget information and product details.
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED): The LEED green building rating system is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. More information about LEED is available online to The University of Texas at Austin employees, including the project certification process, professional accreditation and LEED resources.
• US EPA, Green Building: The Environmental Protection Agency's web portal for green building includes basic information about the advantages and components of green building, funding opportunities and additional resources on high performance building.
• US Green Building Council: The Council is a non-profit organization that certifies sustainable businesses, homes, hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods. USGBC is dedicated to expanding green building practices and education and its LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™. Their Web site includes links to green building research, education, news and events, as well as LEED and LEED Accreditation.
• Whole Building Design Guide: WBDG is the Web-based portal providing government and industry with access to information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a 'whole buildings' perspective. Currently organized into three major categories — Design Guidance, Project Management and Operations, Maintenance — at the heart of the WBDG are "Resource Pages", summaries on particular topics. WBDG is a collaborative effort among federal agencies, private sector companies, non-profit organizations and educational institutions.
• ENERGY STAR for Higher Education: ENERGY STAR brings a proven energy management strategy to distinguish institutions as environmental leaders and save money for repair and renovation, hiring of new faculty, new construction, and other core activities. The Web site includes energy guidelines, tools and resources, case studies, and systems information.

Online Continuing Education Courses

• Greenbuild365: Greenbuild 365 is an online portal to green building education. This is the place to find courses, get “bytes” on building green, and access education session recordings from the annual Greenbuild Expo. Search for courses by topic, profession and format, and register online.
• GREENGUARD Environmental Institute: GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) offers third-party certification for low-emitting products. As an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Authorized Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable standards for indoor air quality and testing protocols. GEI offers one-hour continuing education units (CEUs).
• McGraw-Hill Construction’s Continuing Education Center: McGraw-Hill publications (Architectural Record, ENR, etc.) offer continuing education credits for particular articles and online videos, many of which concern green building practices.
• Metropolis Magazine CEUs: Metropolis offers AIA and IDCEC continuing education credits for particular articles and online videos, many of which concern green building practices.
• Whole Building Design Guide Continuing Education: WBDG courses offer an introduction to whole building design concepts as well as more specific applications for design objectives, building types and operations and maintenance. Courses are free of charge and provide continuing education credits.