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EPA Green Building Publications
EPA Green Building Publications "Catalogue" (PDF) (16 pp, 2MB)
Green Building Standards
Learn about six major model codes and rating systems that communities can use to develop green building programs and revise building ordinances.
Toolkit
The Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments (PDF) (110 pp, 1.12MB, About PDF) helps local governments identify and remove barriers to sustainable design and green building in existing codes and ordinances. The toolkit includes an Assessment Tool in Excel (XLSX) (184K) that local governments can use to evaluate their codes and ordinances; instructions appear on the opening tab.
The buildings in which we live, work, and play protect us from nature's extremes, yet they also affect our health and environment in countless ways. As the environmental impact of buildings becomes more apparent, a new field called "green building" is gaining momentum.
Green, or sustainable, building is the practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition. Read more about green building or use these links to explore topics:
Water Efficiency
Environmentally Preferable Building Materials and Specifications
Waste Reduction
Toxics Reduction
Indoor Air Quality
Smart Growth and Sustainable Development