Resources for Going Green

There are many Web sites and books on green building these days, including some dedicated to particular kinds of construction, such as passive solar, and to specific materials and equipment, such as composting toilets, tankless water heaters and decking made from recycled materials.

For a broader look, here are some suggestions:

Web Sites

? The Green Buildings and Homes section of Arlington County's Web site at http://ww.arlingtonva.us/portals/topics/topicsenvironment.aspx .

? The Southface Institute's Web site for information on the EarthCraft House rating and certification program used in Atlanta and other jurisdictions at http://www.southface.org/ .

? The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program about energy-efficient home building and retrofits at http://www.energystar.gov/ .

? The Virginia Sustainable Building Network, a public/private partnership, at http://www.vsbn.org/ . The Web site features basic information on what makes a home green and a directory of green products and services at http://www.sbrd.org/ .

? The Web site http://www.nahbrc.org/greenguidelines has voluntary green building guidelines developed by the National Association of Home Builders and the NAHB Research Center. Copies can also be obtained by calling Diane Webb at 800-368-5242, Ext. 8290, or by contacting her at NAHB's offices at 1201 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015.

? Environmental Building News-Building Green Inc. in Brattleboro, Vt., at http://www.buildinggreen.com/ .

? The U.S. Green Building Council, a coalition of leaders from across the building industry, at http://www.usgbc.org/ . The council has developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating and certification program for commercial buildings and is working on LEED for Homes.

Books and Guides

? "Good Green Homes: Creating Better Homes for a Healthier Planet," by Jennifer Roberts (Gibbs Smith Publishers, 2003, $39.95).

? "Green Building Products," a listing of more than 1,400 products for builders and homeowners from a data base that has been maintained since 1998. Written by the editors and staff of Environmental Building News in Brattleboro, Vt. (BuildingGreen Inc. and New Society Publishers, April 2005, $34.95).

? "Green by Design: Creating a Home for Sustainable Living," by Angela Dean (Gibbs Smith Publishers, 2003, $24.95).

? "Green Remodeling : Changing the World One Room at a Time," by David R. Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004, $29.95).

? "The New Ecological Home: A Complete Guide to Green Building Options," (by Daniel D. Chiras (Chelsea Green Publishing Co., 2004, $35).