Design Tools, Guidelines & Frameworks

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  • European Green Building Technologies

    This 2008 study, written by green building consultant Jerry Yudelson, focuses on European innovations that U.S. architects, engineers, and builders can use to design and develop high-performance green buildings at little or no added cost. The report is based on in-depth research, site visits to selected projects, and interviews with European green building experts. Download now (PDF)... READ MORE

  • Designer's Fieldbook to Sustainability

    Pragmatic suggestions for incorporating sustainable thinking into everyday design. Includes a nifty wall poster to help you keep simple, sustainable design rules in front of you at all times! (Lunar Design) Download now (PDF)... READ MORE

  • Low-Carbon Refurbishment of Buildings - A Management Guide

    This guide from the Carbon Trust, a U.K. nonprofit, offers practical tips on carbon-saving building overhauls. The report follows ten typical projects through the design and renovation process, including monitoring building performance after each project is complete. Download now... READ MORE

  • Aligned for Sustainable Design: An A-B-C-D Approach to Making Better Products

    The A-B-C-D framework illustrates how companies can Assess, Bridge, Create, and Diffuse sustainable-design capabilities into a more integrative design process within their organizations. Includes in-depth case studies from Nike, Herman Miller, Clorox, and others. (IDEO and Business for Responsibility) Download now (PDF)... READ MORE

  • The Economics of LEED for Existing Buildings

    There are many low-cost and no-cost design upgrades to boost the environmental performance of existing buildings, as this whitepaper shows. According to a survey of buildings that have earned the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification for existing buildings (LEED-EB), the average cost of implementing LEED-EB is only about $2.43 per square foot. (Leonardo Academy) Download now (PDF)... READ MORE

  • A Field Guide: Eco-Friendly, Efficient and Effective Print

    Specialty-papers manufacturer Monadnock offers this how-to for creating more sustainable print materials. The guide presents information from choosing paper to recycling the finished piece including paper types, paper contents, chemical labeling, sizing to reduce paper waste, inks and coatings, finishing techniques, binding, printing processes, and the use of environmental logos. Includes a full chapter dedicated to eco marketing, eco claims, and greenwashing, as well as new information on inks and finishing. (Monadnock Paper) Download now (PDF)... READ MORE

  • Okala Guide 2007

    This primer on ecological and sustainable design is a must-have for practicing and beginning designers. The book features an environmental assessment of 240 materials and processes, called "the Okala impact factors," as well as discussions on environmental ethics, bio-mimicry, and design to stop climate change. Download select pages of the guide here. A complete copy can be ordered at a cost of $19 from the publisher's website.

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  • Wal-Mart's Product Packaging Scorecard

    As part of its recent sustainability push, the retail behemoth has set a goal to reduce packaging used by suppliers by 5% by 2013 and this is how. The scorecard, currently in a beta version, lets manufacturers rank their current use of packaging. How does yours stack up? Read more...

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