Green Building and Remodeling Resources
Green building materials and practices reduce the ecological footprint of a home. Most "green" building materials fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Recycled-content - a portion of product (or the entire product) is made with materials that might otherwise be bound for the landfill (i.e. carpet made from recycled milk jugs and soda bottles).
- Durable - the product will last longer, require less maintenance and save you money.
- Made with renewable resources - the resource from which the material is made can be readily replenished (i.e. bamboo, used for flooring, which can be harvested every 3-6 years).
- Resource efficient - the product was designed to use fewer materials more efficiently, yet perform as well or better than standard products (i.e. engineered lumber, made from small-diameter lumber resulting in a product stronger than standard wood).
- Healthier - the products are non-toxic or have reduced chemical content compared to other products (i.e. formaldehyde-free insulation, low VOC paints and finishes).
- Locally-produced materials - long-distance transport of building materials can be very energy intensive.
Natural Landscaping
Greenacres: Landscaping with Native Plants
Prairie Nursery
Wild Ones
Wisconsin Organizations
1000 Friends of Wisconsin
Daylighting Collaborative
Design Coalition
Energy Center of Wisconsin
Focus On Energy
Madison Area Builders Association
Madison Environmental Group
Metropolitan Builders Association
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
Sustain Dane
WasteCap Wisconsin
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation
Wisconsin Green Building Alliance
National Organizations
BuildingGreen
Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems
Forest Certification Resource Center
Healthy Building Network
Homes Across America
NAHB Research Center
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Green Building Council
