Pull up a comfy chair and browse our favorite resources for making more sustainable choices. We also receive many requests for reports, fact sheets, and vendors—there’s too many good ones to list!—so if you are looking for something specific, feel welcome to contact us.

Green Building Resources and Fact Sheets:

The Delaware Valley Green Building Council (DVGBC) is the Delaware Valley’s primary point of contact for users, agencies, and companies interested in sustainable communities. Check out DVGBC for local trainings and sustainability programs. www.dvgbc.org

The US Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. www.usgbc.org

The Urban Sustainability Forum is a series of public meetings designed to raise awareness and develop concrete strategies to address some of the most important issues facing Philadelphia. www.sustainablephiladelphia.com

The National Charrette Institute teaches the art and science of Dynamic Planning, a holistic, collaborative planning process. www.charretteinstitute.org

The Tofte Project is an immersive tour sustainable design principles through exploration of a cabin's design and construction, as well as take an in-depth look at its natural surroundings. http://www.tofteproject.org/

ZERI—Zero Emissions and Research Initiative has spent 10 years in the field developing projects that demonstrate how we can do so much more with what nature provides, meeting the basic needs of all species in co-evolution with nature. www.zeri.org

Building Green is a subscription-based online resource for environmentally sensitive design and construction, including a green product directory. This site also has limited public resources. http://www.buildinggreen.com/index.cfm

Abridged Daylight Study in Schools (PDF) by Heschong Mahone Group

The Cost of Building Green (PDF) by Davis Langdon Adamson

Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings (PDF) by Greg Kats

Green Roof Fact Sheet (PDF)

ACEEE Green cars of 2007 (PDF)

VOC Limits for Building Materials.pdf (PDF)

Repair or Replace (PDF) A Green Guide to appliances by Amanda MacMillan

A Cautionary Tale (PDF) Why neglecting the old in favor of the new just might cost us dearly by Wayne Curtis

Armstrong World Industries LEED-EB Platinum Informational Brochure (PDF)

Energy Performance of LEED-NC Buildings (PDF)

Sustainable Landscape Resources:

Plant Native is dedicated to moving native plants and naturescaping into mainstream landscaping practices. www.plantnative.org

Low Impact Development is a comprehensive land planning and engineering design approach with a goal of maintaining and enhancing the pre-development hydrologic regime of urban and developing watersheds. www.lowimpactdevelopment.org

Sustainable Food Choices:

Buy Local PA is a directory of Pennsylvania Community Supported Agriculture farms (check this out for fresh, organic food delivered to you!), u-pick farms, farmers’ markets, restaurants, grocers, and other businesses that sell locally grown farm products. www.buylocalpa.org

The Fair Food Project is dedicated to bringing locally grown food into the Philadelphia marketplace and promoting a humane, sustainable agriculture for the Greater Philadelphia region. White Dog Foundation - Fair Food

Seafood Watch provides seafood choices for healthy oceans Monterey Bay Aquarium - Seafood Watch

Sustainable Purchasing & Business Practices:

The Sustainable Business Network is a nonprofit network of local triple-bottom-line businesses and social entrepreneurs who are committed to building a more socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable local economy. sbnphiladelphia.org

RVA’s Green Office Reference (PDF) offers suggestions for extending sustainability principles into business purchasing and practice.

The Energy Cooperative provides RVA’s purchase of 100% wind power. www.theenergy.coop

Philly CarShare provides RVA with a hybrid car, when a bicycle just won’t do. www.phillycarshare.org

Philly FreeCycle is an online space for free givin' & gettin' stuff! Philly FreeCycle

Greenline Paper is a resource for eco-products for the office, restaurant, hotel and home (including biodegradable food service containers). www.greenlinepaper.com

Environmental Education:

Earth Force engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities. www.earthforce.org and Green.org

ZERI Educational Initiative is designed to help children, adolescents and young adults learn about the science of nature so they can become problem-solvers. Zeri lessons are centered around the concept that everything in nature has value, whatever is waste for a species of one kingdom, is a nutrient for another living organism. www.zeri.org

The Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Schools Program engages students in creating energy-saving activities in their schools, using hands-on, real-world projects. ASE.org

The EnviroLink Network provides access to thousands of online environmental resources. www.envirolink.org

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is a terrific place to go experience nature. www.schuylkillcenter.org