Visit Our Sustainable Website of the Week!

Business and Sustainable Development: A Global Guide
From the Canadian International Institute for Sustainable Development comes this website dedicated to explaining strategies and tools that companies can draw on to translate an aspiration of sustainability into practical, effective solutions. Case studies from around the world are provided as an example of each measure. The website's six sections cover current issues, strategies and tools, markets, banking and investment, working with NGOs and training opportunities.

Cool Companies
Cool Companies is a project of the non-profit Center for Energy & Climate Solutions, which helps businesses, government, and environmental organizations develop technological, strategic, financial, and regulatory tools to foster the adoption of clean solutions. The Cool Companies website is devoted to news, information, and resources about the companies that are leading the path to energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
There is no shortage of useful information at this site, which is searchable by keyword, provides links to information on the whole spectrum of energy-efficiency and renewable energy topics, information on the latest news, as well as a list of key contacts and a list of hot topics. EERE offers access to DOE’s national laboratory data bases on a host of topics, such as solar access and wind regimes. There is even a form to submit energy-related questions and lists of discussion groups on various energy-related topics. 

Sustainable Sources
This site offers useful information and resources on sustainable building services, practices, products, and techniques. The Sustainable Building Sourcebook is available online, and a searchable directory of green building professionals is located on this site. The site also offers green real estate listings. 

Green Communities Assistance Kit
Developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a step-by-step guide for identifying and resolving community needs, and planning and implementing sustainable actions. Also identifies useful tools, case studies, and other resources. 

Green Map System
The Green Map System is a globally connected, locally adaptable framework for community sustainability. Green Maps chart the sites of environmental significance in urban places around the world. Each map is created locally in a unique way, and the mapmakers are of all ages and backgrounds.

Green Restaurant Association
GRA is a national non-profit organization that provides services in research, consulting, education, marketing and community organizing. GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, grassroots organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. Its model provides a convenient way for all sectors of the restaurant industry, which represents 10 percent of the U.S. economy, to become more environmentally sustainable. Developed a large database of environmental solutions for the restaurant industry to help restaurants move towards sustainability in the areas of energy, water, packaging, recycling, construction, food, and more.

Harvesting Clean Energy
With a tagline, "Farming for Energy Independence," this site was created to build awareness of the benefits of renewable energy technologies for rural landowners and communities in Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. The site features primers on wind energy, biomasss, solar stock watering and geothermal projects. The website is a project of Climate Solutions, a nonprofit organization based in Olympia, Washington.

Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
ILSR is a nonprofit education and research organization that provides information and assistance on topics related to sustainable development. For more than 20 years, ILSR has worked with citizen groups, governments, and private companies to develop sustainable development policies. Visit this Web site and you’ll find information about ILSR’s activities, such as its Carbohydrate Energy Program and its work with Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a coalition of organizations striving for a sustainable energy policy in Minnesota. You’ll also find information on a technical and educational reports on a variety of topics, including sustainable development and sustainable energy policy. 

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) is a nonprofit organization established through the partnership of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union of Local Authorities, and the Center for Innovative Diplomacy. The site includes case studies, project summaries (the Business Partners Program and the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, for example), a newsletter, information on publications related to policy and practice, a calendar of events, and links to other sites. ICLEI's Communities 21 program provides US local governments with technical assistance in moving towards sustainable communities. Tools for a Sustainable Community: One-Stop Guide for Local Government identifies resources from the federal government and other agencies and contains references for technical assistance, funding sources, publications, and internet sites.

The Local Government Commission 
The Local Government Commission provides peer networking opportunities, acts as an interface between city and county officials, and provides practical policy ideas for addressing serious environmental and social problems.  Major program areas include Pedestrian and Transit Oriented Land Use Planning, Waste Prevention and Resource Conservation, Resource Efficient Land Use, and the Center for Livable Communities.

Looking for Oregon's Future: What is Sustainability?
This website from the Oregon State University Extension Service has a goal to "promote dialogue among Oregonians concerning the future of our communities, industries, and economy, and concerning the quality of of life we want to make possible for our grandchildren." The site features 33 articles about sustainability, an interactive quiz to test your sustainability knowledge and links to other sustainability sites.

NextStep
A project of the Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network, NextStep offers a host of useful information to promote community sustainable development. The site features 12 topic areas full of information, as well as a Sustainability 101 primer, a job board, and more. Users can even post information and resources to the site!

PLANetizen: The Planning and Development Network
PLANetizen is a public-interest information exchange for the urban planning and development community. The website provides a daily source of information on urban planning news, job opportunities, commentary and events.

Renewable Energy Policy Project - Center for Renewable Energy & Sustainable Technology (REPP-CREST) 
The REPP website provides extensive information on numerous aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency, at levels from introductory to advanced technical. The site includes a calendar, discussion groups, data, and listings of employment opportunities in the field. Renewable energy information on hydro, solar, biomass, wind, and geothermal is offered, as well as micropower options and energy efficiency.

Resource Renewal Institute (RRI)
RRI, a nonprofit organization, promotes the use of Green Plans to achieve a sustainable environment and economy. Green Plans are “dynamic programs by which all elements of society agree on long-term environmental goals and take responsibility for achieving them.” This Web site serves to educate and inform its users about Green Blocks, as well as to provide information on other resources and updates about what’s new at RRI. Access the Environmental Atlas for information on which communities across the world are implementing Green Plans and how they’re doing it. To access documents and speeches about Green Plans, visit the Green Plan Archive. Or join the Green Plan Forum mailing list to share comments and new information about Green Plans. 

Sustainable Communities Network (SCN) 
Developed by the Sustainable Communities Network Partnership, this site encourages the exchange of information to help make communities more livable and increases the visibility of successful community projects. A wide range of issues related to community sustainability are addressed, including: creating communities, smart growth, growing a sustainable economy, protecting natural resources, living sustainably, and governing community. Within these topics, you can locate case studies, resources, related Web sites, links to databases, events calendars, and suggested reading lists for specific subtopics. 

Sustainable Sonoma County
Sustainable Sonoma County (SSC) is a non-profit organization that takes a holistic and comprehensive approach to problem-solving. The SSC website highlights sustainability concepts, notes numerous ways to get involved in sustainability issues, sponsors an online discussion group, and links to numerous other resources on sustainability. Current projects of SSC include sustainability interactive workshops, the Sustainable Urban Model creating a model of sustainable living in an urban setting, and the Sustainability Management Systems Coaching Program offering large organizations and businesses a systematic approach to becoming more sustainable.

TravelMatters!
TravelMatters! is a new website from the Center for Neighborhood Technology that provides a trio of resources- interactive emissions calculators, on-line emissions maps, and a wealth of educational content- that emphasize the close relationship between more efficient transit systems and lower greenhouse gas emissions. TM's Emissions Calculator allows users to conceptualize how much carbon dioxide they emit due to their travel decisions. The site also offers transportation emissions by county for all contiguous states.

Urban Ecology
Through its worldwide membership, nonprofit Urban Ecology supports and participates in the development of ecologically healthy and socially vital cities and towns. At this Web site, you’ll be able to access information about projects such as Blueprint for a Sustainable Bay Area, which aims to create a vision for the Bay Area based on sustainable alternatives, and the Community Design Work project, through which Urban Ecology is offering communities a chance to participate in a “visionary, practical” approach to community design. 

Last updated: February 3, 2005