By moving toward sustainable energy resources, we play to our strength. Texas at the dawn of a new century is as rich in energy - sustainable energy - as it was in fossil fuel energy at the dawn of the 20th century, and unlike those fossil fuel resources that have helped to build this great state, sustainable energy resources won't run out. - Garry Mauro, Texas Land Commissioner 1995

Organizations
Online Resources
Texas Green Programs
Sustainable Schools Design

ORGANIZATIONS

Sustainable Skylines - Dallas
The Sustainable Skylines initiative is a three-year partnership between the City of Dallas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments to promote sustainability within the City via voluntary programs which emphasize air quality improvements.

Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems
A non-profit education, demonstration and research organization.

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Developed by the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system was created to accredit buildings that use design and construction practices that minimize the negative impact on the environment and save energy. Also see the LEED Workshops

LEED for Neighborhood Development
LEED for Neighborhood Development is a rating system that integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design. It is being developed by USGBC in partnership with the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism, and green building into the first national standard for neighborhood design. LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a development's location and design meet accepted high standards for environmentally responsible, sustainable, development.

U. S. Green Building Council
A coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

Energy & Environmental Building Association
Provides education and resources to transform the residential design, development and construction industries to profitably deliver energy efficiency and environmentally responsible buildings and communities.

Rocky Mountain Institute
The Rocky Mountain Institute is dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the general field of sustainability, with a special focus on energy production, use, and conservation.

Smart Communities Network
The website contains community success stories, model codes, breaking news on community sustainability, a national conference calendar and a compendium of links to sustainable community information.

Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
Provides design software and other resources for saving energy in buildings and effectively using solar energy.

Sustainable Energy Coalition
Brings together more than 30 national business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations that advocate federal energy policies for a cleaner environment, safe reliable energy technologies and a secure, prosperous future for all Americans.

Sustainable Communities Network
Encourages the exchange of information to help make communities more livable and increases the visibility of successful community projects.

GreenerBuildings Web Site
This web site has numerous building development resources to help organizations of all sizes and sectors understand and address building design, construction, and operation in environmentally responsible manner. The Energy Use section outlines some tools to simultaneously reduce costs and negative health impacts.

ENERGY STAR
Energy Star offers businesses and consumers energy efficient solutions - helping to save money while protecting the environment for future generations. Energy Star is a voluntary labeling program of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy that identifies energy efficient products. Energy Star programs and products help save the environment and save consumers money by using less energy through advanced design or construction.

Ecosa Institute
Ecosa is dedicated to issues of sustainability and ecological design. The goal for the institute is to bring innovative thinking, new pedagogical models and an interdisciplinary approach to a design education which uses nature as its underlying model. Ecosa offered its first semester in sustainable design in 2000. The program has now expanded to include both a spring and fall semester programs as well as summer workshops.

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Texas Green Programs

Green Dallas
The City of Dallas launched its new green-focused web site in January 2008. The web site is dedicated to a broad range of environmental issues. and received over 160,000 hits in its first month.

Houston Advanced Research Center - Cultivate Green
Cultivate Green is a web site by a consortium of Houston Area stakeholders working together to develop and implement an innovative green initiative for the Houston Galveston Region. Created by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), which is a nonprofit organization based in The Woodlands, Texas, dedicated to improving human and ecosystem well-being through the application of sustainability science and principles of sustainable development.

The Green Building Initiative
The Greater Houston Building Association green building program is a voluntary program available to all GHBA members. The program serves the Houston-Galveston region to promote healthy, energy and water efficient homes that reduce utility costs and use recycled, renewable and or reclaimed materials that protect the environment. This local chapter page is part of the Green Building Initiative, a web site of the national organization dedicated to promoting green building practices. The site has green building information resources for residential and commercial building sectors.

U. S. Green Building Council - Central Texas Chapter
The USGBC Central Texas-Balcones Chapter mission is to serve as a local interface for the building industry and the local community in promoting sustainable development practices throughout the region. Events Calendar

Zero Energy Home Powers in North Texas
DOE's Building America Program publishes this case study of a zero energy home in Frisco, Texas.

Austin Energy's Green Building Program
If you're a homeowner, renter or a member of the design and building profession, this program has information to help you design and build with health, energy-efficiency and the environment in mind.

Austin Energy's Green by Design Workshops
Anyone preparing to build, buy or remodel a home can learn how to improve energy and water efficiency, increase comfort and reduce maintenance. The Green Building Program's 1-day Green by Design Workshop is held four times per year.

Sustainable Building Coalition (SBG)
This Austin-based group is a network of individuals interested in sustainable and ecological building, design and development. The SBG holds regular meetings and events.

Build San Antonio Green
San Antonio's first residential green building program certifies both green building professionals and new homes (a renovation component is underway). The program was developed by the Metropolitan Partnership for Energy (MPE) and is co-administered with the Greater San Antonio Builders Association (GSABA). A Build San Antonio Green home must achieve points in Site, Materials, Water, Energy and Health.

City of Frisco Green Building Program
The Green Building Ordinance established a green building program and regulates the energy efficiency, conservation of water, indoor air quality and recycling of waste in all residential buildings and structures in the City of Frisco Texas by setting minimum standards. The site has green building information resources for residential and commercial building sectors.

Live Green In Plano
The City of Plano offers a broad spectrum of programs and educational opportunities to residents interested in living green.

Energy Efficient Green Building Institute
The Energy Efficient Green Building Institute mission is to develop training programs, awareness activities, and resources that will promote the national agenda for the conservation of energy use in buildings, the use of environmentally responsible building technologies as well as the development of sustainable communities. The Energy Efficient Green Building Institute is a partnership between Cedar Valley College, part of the Dallas County Community College District, and the U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Program.

Buying Green Power in Texas
Green pricing programs are voluntary utility-sponsored programs that allow electricity consumers to support the development of renewable resources. Participating customers pay a premium on their electric bill to cover the extra cost of the renewable energy. Participating utilities use the revenues gained to purchase power from renewable sources or invest in their own renewable energy development.

Self-Guided Tour of Austin's Green Buildings

Green Building Program Newsletter
Austin Energy Green Building Program members bi-monthly publication of the Green Building Program that highlights green building in the community.

The Green Home: Sensible Home Buying in Central Texas
A City of Austin Green Builder Program article.

The Sustainable Building Sourcebook
Austin Energy's Sustainable Building Sourcebook contains information relevant to the Austin area, such as regulatory issues, climate, installation guidelines, and sources of assistance. The Sourcebook also provides pertinent information on various aspects of sustainable building strategies and possible implementation issues that may be found in less familiar approaches to building.

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ONLINE RESOURCES

Green Building Rating Systems
A 2006 comparison of the LEED and Green Globe systems in the U.S. prepared by the University of Minnesota for the Western Council of Industrial Workers.

Sustainable Building Rating Systems Summary
This 2006 report was completed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It was prepared for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). GSA is a significant participant in the building industry with buildings that are typically built for a 100 year life following stringent guidelines to enhance the asset value, and it is critical for GSA to evaluate the performance of projects. Since 2003, all GSA projects are to use and achieve a certified rating from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED®) green building rating system.

EnergyPlus Program for Building Energy Design
DOE has issued a new version of its award-winning EnergyPlus program. The EnergyPlus program allows architects, building engineers, and others to model the energy flow within a building, examining the effects of the building's heating, cooling, ventilating, and lighting systems. Version 2.0 allows users to include green roofs, phase-change materials, and advanced building controls in their building designs.

Sustainable Design and Operations
This DOE web site has numerous resources, reference materials and training opportunities.

Designing and Remodeling a Home
This DOE web site includes information on advanced house framing (walls), earth-sheltered homes, log homes, corn-cob homes, manufactured homes, zero-energy homes and passive solar homes.

ASHRAE's Advanced Energy Design Guide Series
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) has published energy design guides developed through a collaboration of ASHRAE, DOE, the American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition to schools, the series also includes design guides for small retail buildings and small office buildings, and an upcoming guide will address warehouses. The guides provide a sensible approach to easily achieve advanced levels of energy savings without having to resort to detailed calculations or analyses. They offer contractors and designers the tools needed for achieving a 30% energy savings compared to buildings that meet minimum energy efficiency requirements. And to encourage designers and builders to make full use of the guides, they are now available for free download on the ASHRAE Web site. See the ASHRAE press release.

Sustainable Build
This web site focuses on green construction techniques and advice. The web site contains over 90 articles written by a team of experts. Approximately 10 new articles are added each month.

Green Power Network
This DOE, EERE web site provides news and information on green power markets and related activities. The site provides up-to-date information on green power providers, product offerings, consumer protection issues, and policies affecting green power markets.

Cleaner and Greener Environment
The Cleaner and Greener program certifies companies that are taking positive action to reduce pollution. This helps companies communicate their positive actions to consumers and makes it easy for consumers to easily identify and preferentially make their purchase from these companies.

Green by Design: Seven Steps to Green Building
Basic guidelines to make your house green.

Green-e Certification
Green-e provides an easy way for consumers to quickly identify environmentally superior electricity products in competitive markets. Green-e is administered by the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions, which established the Green-e Renewable Electricity Certification Program in order to ensure that consumers who purchase "green" power are getting what they pay for. The site offers information on certification, products, and providers.

Green Power Fact Sheets
American Wind Energy Association fact sheets providing answers to basic questions about Green Power, including what it is, the rationale for purchasing it, and procedures for buying it. Information on locating various types of Green Power distributors is also provided.

Green Power Partnership
An EPA program that encourages organizations to use green power as a part of best-practice environmental management.

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities' mission is to increase the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure across North America and rapidly advance the development of the market for green roof products and services. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities offers an introductory course, Green Roof Design 101.

Green Seal
Strives to achieve a healthier and cleaner environment by identifying and promoting products and services that cause less toxic pollution and waste, conserve resources and habitats, and minimize global warming and ozone depletion.

Power Scorecard
An information tool created by a coalition of environmental groups that lets consumers compare the environmental impacts of green power and conventional power products.

Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency
This is an ENERGY STAR web site.

Home by Design Showhouse 3D Walkthrough
Take this model home tour previewing the principals of sustainable home design. This project was a collaborative effort between best selling author and architect Sarah Susanka and Building Media. Susanka teamed with building expert Steve Easley and with marketing leader Craig Savage to build and present the full-scale, fully finished Home by Design Showhouse at the International Builders Show in 2004.

State of Oklahoma Best of Building Science Online Resource Site
Featured here are lessons learned from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building America program, delivered by some of the nation's foremost building science professionals.

Handbook for New Homes - Best Practices Series
This is Volume 1 of DOE's Building America Best Practices Series: Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Hot and Humid Climate. This best practices handbook helps builders develop durable, comfortable homes that achieve 30% energy savings in space conditioning and water heating in hot and humid climates.

Home Energy Efficiency Guide
HomeTome provides comprehensive web resources to all aspects of energy efficient homes and home energy conservation.

Designing and Remodeling a Home
This DOE web site includes information on advanced house framing, earth-sheltered homes, log homes, corn-cob homes, manufactured homes, zero-energy homes and passive solar homes.

Building America Document Database
An online library of publications written by researchers and builders associated with DOE's Building America.

EcoIQ.com
A comprehensive resource that provides media, educational products and services, strategies, and the tactics and tools needed by educators, and advocates working for sustainability.

Whole Building Design Guide
Provides information and resources that support sustainable design.

Environmental Building News
One of the best online publications for timely information on green building. Factual, in-depth articles on products, methods and current events.

Renewable Energy and Sustainability
A SECO fact sheet.

Distributed Generation Interconnection Manual
The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) prepared this manual to guide
the inclusion of distributed generation (DG) into the Texas electric system. It is intended for use by utility engineers processing distributed generation interconnection applications, as well as those considering the interconnection of distributed generation with a transmission and distribution utility. The manual includes a review of safety and technical requirements of DG installations; a copy of applicable rules, application procedures and forms; Texas utility contacts and equipment pre-certification requirements.

Connecting to the Grid Guide 2007
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has published a new edition of its Connecting to the Grid guide. The fifth edition of this guide, published in July 2007, addresses new and lingering interconnection issues that are relevant to all distributed generation technologies, including renewables, fuel cells, microturbines, and reciprocating engines. Because the interconnection of small distributed generators remains largely in the domain of states, the guide targets state regulators, other government officials, and utility representatives.

Green Building News
This web site includes an extensive online library.

Ask an Expert!
This DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Information Center answers questions on EERE's products, services, and technology programs, refers callers to the most appropriate EERE resources, and refers qualified callers to the appropriate expert networks. You may contact the information center by calling 1-877-337-3463 or by completing an online form. A customer service specialist or energy expert will respond to your inquiry.

Personal Emissions Calculator
Use this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's personal greenhouse gas emissions calculator with your household energy bills to estimate your household's annual emissions and identify ways you can cut your emissions. Then move on to the next section of the calculator to explore actions you and/or your family can take to lower your emissions while reducing your energy and waste disposal costs. For each action you choose to take, the calculator displays the amount of emissions you could avoid and how that amount relates to your total emissions.

On the Path to Zero Energy Homes

A New Market Paradigm for Zero-Energy Homes, Vol. I
This report was published in 2006 by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

A New Market Paradigm for Zero-Energy Homes, Vol. II (Appendixes)

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