Related Links

To learn more about LEED certification, visit:

• The U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 15,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. Members includes building owners and end-users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies, and nonprofits.

These are some of the many sites that explore sustainable (“green”) building principles and practices.

• The Natural Resources Defense Council—Building Green
  The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—Green Building
  EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and the environment. Since 1970, EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
• The Chronicle of Higher Education Buildings and Grounds Blog
  This blog covers building plans and expansion projects underway or in the planning stages at colleges and universities nationwide. It especially looks at institutions employing green initiatives in their construction projects and discusses methods that institutes of higher learning can apply to decrease their carbon footprints.
• Environmental Design + Construction Online Magazine
  This magazine provides information about all aspects of environmentally sound building design and construction, including recycled building products, energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, indoor air quality, and systems of waste disposal and re-use. The audience for ED+C encompasses architects, interior designers, building contractors, spec writers and others in the design and construction fields who are buying and specifying environmentally sound building materials.
• Green Space Today News Web Site
  This is an online magazine and business resource that connects people, companies, institutions and cities that value green building and sustainable practices.
• GreenBiz.com News Web Site
  GreenBiz.com provides news and information on how to align environmental responsibility with business success.
• GreenerBuildings News Web Site
  Created in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, GreenerBuildings is a one-stop resource on designing, constructing and operating environmentally responsible commercial and industrial buildings.
• ClimateBiz News Web Site
  Created in partnership with Business for Social Responsibility, a nonprofit organization focused on sustainable business solutions and strategies, ClimateBiz provides information on strategies for companies seeking to reduce their climate “footprint” while saving money and increasing productivity.
• Also, it is suggested that you search for Web sites that provide information on sustainable building practices specific to your geographical location.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) is a university consortium leveraging the scientific strength of 97 major research institutions to advance science and education by partnering with national laboratories, government agencies and private industry. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a U.S. Department of Energy institute focusing on scientific initiatives to research health risks from occupational hazards, assess environmental cleanup, respond to radiation medical emergencies, support national security and emergency preparedness, and educate the next generation of scientists. ORISE is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities.

Partners Development of Knoxville, Tennessee is a full-service, diversified real estate development company. Partners Development has completed more than 100 projects in the Americas and Europe, and specializes in the commercial, industrial, residential and education markets.

Benefield Richters Company, Knoxville, Tennessee, is an architecture, landscape architecture, and planning firm providing design services for a broad range of project types, including education, office, medical and institutional.

If you have specific questions about ORAU or ORISE, contact Pam Bonee, ORAU Director of Communications & Marketing, at 865.576.3147 or Pam.Bonee@orau.org.