Sidebar for Sustainable Design: Means, Methods, and Materials

This article appeared in the December 2006 issue of Cross Sections. For updated resources, please visit our Special Coverage Section.

Organizations - International

International Standards Organization (ISO)

ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 157 countries, on the basis of one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. ISO 14001 offers firms a great framework for developing a comprehensive set of environmental operating policies. A documented Environmental Management System should not only outline methods for reducing consumption of energy and other natural resources, but also provide for continual review and improvement of such procedures.

http://www.iso.org

Organizations - Federal

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

In partnership with the private sector, state and local government, national laboratories, and universities, the Building Technologies Program works to improve the efficiency of buildings and the equipment, components, and systems within them. The program supports R&D activities and provides tools, guidelines, training, and access to technical and financial resources. The site provides a number of valuable resources, including design and construction guidelines, energy simulation software, and a High Performance Buildings Database.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

NIST: Building and Fire Research Laboratory

The Building and Fire Research Laboratory studies building materials; computer-integrated construction practices; fire science and fire safety engineering; and structural, mechanical, and environmental engineering. Products of the laboratory's research include measurements and test methods, performance criteria, and technical data that supports innovations by industry and are incorporated into building and fire standards and codes. Their site provides access to sustainability modeling and design software, including BEES, BLCC, and COST.

http://www.nist.gov/
http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/

Organizations - New York State

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a public benefit corporation created in 1975 by the New York State Legislature. Since 1990, NYSERDA has successfully developed and brought into use more than 170 innovative, energy-efficient, and environmentally beneficial products, processes, and services. The site includes information on Executive Order 111 and the New York State Green Building Tax Credit.

http://www.nyserda.org/programs/Green_Buildings/default.asp

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation manages programs based on legislation passed in 2000, which establishes a Green Building Tax Credit to be allowable against various business and personal income taxes. The Green Building Tax Credit provides for tax credits to owners and tenants of eligible buildings and tenant spaces which meet certain "green" standards. These standards increase energy efficiency, improve indoor air quality, and reduce the environmental impacts of large commercial and residential buildings in New York State, among other benefits.

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ppu/grnbldg/legis.html

Battery Park City Authority

In January 2000, the Battery Park City Authority published the Residential Environmental Guidelines, to establish a process for the creation of environmentally responsible residential buildings, appreciably ahead of current standards and practices for development. These guidelines were responsible for the construction of the first "green" residential tower in the United States. The Authority’s website includes a set of sustainable design guidelines that are free for download.

http://www.batteryparkcity.org/page/page23.html

Organizations - New York City

New York City Department of Design and Construction

The Department of Design and Construction was created in October 1995 by Local Law 77, which authorized it to assume responsibility for certain construction projects formerly performed by the Departments of Transportation, Environmental Protection, and General Services (now Citywide Administrative Services). The Department delivers the City's construction projects in an expeditious, cost-effective manner, while maintaining the highest degree of architectural, engineering, and construction quality. Their website includes information on Local Law 86.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/ddc/html/ddcgreen/

Lower Manhattan Development Corporation

LMDC works in cooperation with its partners in the public and private sectors to coordinate long-term planning for the World Trade Center site and surrounding communities, while pursuing short-term initiatives to improve the quality of life in Lower Manhattan during the revitalization effort. Their site includes a downloadable version of the World Trade Center Sustainable Design Guidelines Reference Manual.

http://www.renewnyc.com/

New York City Transit

MTA New York City Transit is the largest agency in the MTA regional transportation network, which also includes MTA Staten Island Railway (part of NYC Transit's Department of Subways),MTA Long Island Rail Road, MTA Long Island Bus, MTA Metro-North Railroad, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and MTA Capital Construction. This page lists programs and policies related to environmental management within NYCT.

http://mta.info/nyct/facts/ffenvironment.htm

Professional Organizations

U.S. Green Building Council, New York Chapter

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Our more than 7,500 member organizations and our network of 75 regional chapters are united to advance our mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability. The site includes links to a number of valuable publications.

http://chapters.usgbc.org
http://chapters.usgbc.org/newyork/

The American Society of Civil Engineers

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 140,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide, and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE's vision is to position engineers as global leaders building a better quality of life. The Society celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2002. Their website provides continually evolving guidance on sustainable design for practicing engineers. Contact Mark Webster for more information.

http://www.asce.org

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. The ASHRAE site includes information on Proposed Standard 189.

http://www.ashrae.org/

The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America

The IESNA is the recognized technical authority on illumination. For over 100 years its objective has been to communicate information on all aspects of good lighting practice to its members, to the lighting community, and to consumers through a variety of programs, publications, and services. The strength of the IESNA is its diversified membership: engineers, architects, designers, educators, students, contractors, distributors, utility personnel, manufacturers, and scientists, all contributing to the mission of the Society: to advance knowledge and disseminate information for the improvement of the lighted environment to the benefit of society.

http://www.iesna.org/

National Institute of Building Sciences

The WBDG is the only web-based portal providing government and industry practitioners with one-stop access to up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a 'whole buildings' perspective. Currently organized into three major categories—Design Guidance, Project Management and Operations & Maintenance—at the heart of the WBDG are Resource Pages, reductive summaries on particular topics. Their website provides a downloadable version of The Whole Building Design Guide.

http://www.wbdg.org/

Green Building Pages

Green Building Pages, Inc. is an on-line, sustainable design and decision-making tool for building industry professionals and environmentally and socially responsible consumer. Green Building Pages’ mission is to create a clear, concise, public format for communicating comprehensive, current, and transparent information to enable building industry professionals and consumers seeking a healthy, sustainable lifestyle to choose building materials that preserve health, the environment, and whose production and manufacture processes promote social equity and economic sustainability. Their site provides an array of resources, including the Sustainable Building Materials Database, Eco-Design Strategies and Case Studies, and Links to Sustainable Design Organizations.

http://www.greenbuildingpages.com

BuildingGreen.com

BuildingGreen, Inc. is an independent company committed to providing information designed to help building-industry professionals and policy makers improve the environmental performance, and reduce the adverse impacts, of buildings. Their site provides access to GreenSpec and BuildingGreen Suites.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/

Local Green Building Projects

The Solaire

The Solaire, was the first in a succession of residential buildings that will become the model for healthier, ecologically responsible environments where occupants collectively enjoy the benefits of living in a "green" community.

http://www.thesolaire.com/

Conde Nast Building (Four Times Square)

The Conde Nast Building has solar panels integrated into its facade, and is one of the most important examples of green design in skyscrapers.

http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=113942
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=3837

The Helena

The Helena is an enviromentally advanced residence located at the gateway to the Upper West Side.

http://www.thehelena.com/

The Octagon, Roosevelt Island

A historic structure once used as a lunatic asylum, The Octagon is now a refurbished, 500-unit residential building with numerous green
amenities.

http://www.octagonnyc.com/roosevelt.asp

Publications

Metropolis Magazine

The popular architectural and planning magazine Sustainable Metropolis, a dedicated sustainability resource, with links to articles and green resources.

http://www.metropolismag.com/

Eco-Structure

Published eight times per year by Spiderweb Publishing Inc., eco-structure is dedicated to improving the environmental performances of buildings and their surroundings. By focusing on particular green residential and commercial projects, as well as gaining “perspectives” from industry leaders, the publication strives to improve the built industry through education and design. Established in 2003, eco-structure illustrates that green is beautiful. For a free subscription, visit eco-structure’s redesigned Web site. While there, sign up for eco-newsletter, which is e-mailed in the months the magazine does not mail.

http://www.eco-structure.com/