The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) recently released Green Building Guidelines: Meeting the Demand for Low-Energy, Resource-Efficient Homes. The book is the second generation of sustainable residential design guidelines created in cooperation with the National Association of Home Builders. Written in plain language with illustrations, case studies and checklists, the book is targeted for homebuilders just starting to learn about the elements of high performance home design. It encourages builders to think about the issues in an integrated and holistic way. SBIC also offers a Guidelines workshop that addresses site-specific, climatic conditions and typically includes local case studies. sbic@sbicouncil.org www.sbicouncil.org
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Portland, Oregon’s Office of Sustainable Development’s Green Building Division recently released a report, “ReThinking Development: Portland’s Strategic Investment in Green Building.” It details the programs they have implemented over the past two years that have accelerated interest and activity in Portland’s emerging green building industry.
In early 2001, they set a two year goal of having green building designs for at least 600 housing units and 3 million square feet of commercial and mixed-use development in the city. As of February 2003, 41 commercial and mixed-use buildings, totaling 3.1 million square feet were built green. Portland’s Green Investment Fund and the Portland Development Commission’s green affordable housing requirements add another 1314 units to the mix. And, more than 30 affordable and market-rate housing projects with almost 2000 units are in financing and pre-design stage.
The report reflects a growing commitment to green building in Portland. There are numerous LEED-certified buildings, dozens of green design and construction firms, and a robust cluster of green building-related manufacturers and vendors. The report outlines a number of strategies to encourage green building practices, stimulate Portland’s “green” economy and solidify the city’s reputation as a “green” incubator.
Contact Stephanie Swanson, City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development, Green Building Division.
Download the report.
www.green-rated.org
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Solar energy must be getting more popular – now there’s the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solar Power for Your Home!
It shows you how solar panels generate electricity, the advantages and disadvantages, and costs/ benefits of solar power. It gives advice on financing and building a solar home, choosing a professional installer, and buying and selling a solar home. www.idiotsguides.com
The Solar Living Institute will be holding 22 solar installer training classes throughout California from March – August. The one-day classes are for people with electrical experience. The goal of the program is to increase the pool of qualified installers in California.
sli@solarliving.org www.solarliving.org
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