sunstructures
Global Climate Change
350 - 350 is the red line for human beings, the most important number on the planet. The most recent science tells us that unless we can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to 350 parts per million, we will cause huge and irreversible damage to the earth.
WE CAN SOLVE IT - The warning signs are plain to see. The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Mountain glaciers are fading on every continent and the sea ice is melting. The seas have begun a slow but menacing rise.
 
 
Green and Sustainable Architectural Design
Architecture 2030 - 2030’s mission is to rapidly transform the US and global Building Sector from the major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central part of the solution to the global-warming crisis.
United States Green Building Council - USGBC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation with the LEED green building rating system.
Development Center for Appropriate Technology - Founded in 1991 as a non-profit organization, DCAT draws on extensive experience in traditional and alternative building and development, providing strategic support for the shift to sustainable building practices.
New Urbanism - Giving people many choices for living an urban lifestyle in sustainable, convenient and enjoyable places, while providing the solutions to peak oil, global warming, and climate change.
Congress on New Urbanism - By focusing development, New Urbanism promotes efficient use of infrastructure and preservation of habitats and farmland. With green building leaders, CNU is establishing new standards for green design at the neighborhood scale.
 
 
Building Science
Environmental Building News - The premier source for objective analysis of innovative sustainable building technologies and materials.
Ecological Building Network - The primary project of EBNet is the development of modernized earthen building standards so as to promote and develop the most environmentally and culturally-friendly building system of all.
Building Science Corporation - Their resources combine building physics, systems design concepts, and an awareness of sustainability to promote the design and construction of buildings that are more durable, healthier, more sustainable and more economical than most buildings built today.
BREEAM - England's LEED.The BREEAM family of assessment methods and tools are all designed to help construction professionals understand and mitigate the environmental impacts of the developments they design and build.
 
 
Renewable Energy
Energy Star - US Department of Energy program for energy efficiency.
American Solar Energy Society - Established in 1954, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies in the U.S.
Great Lakes Renewable Energy Society - GLREA was founded in 1991 to promote the design, construction, manufacture, marketing, sales, use and education of the general public in the practices of renewable energy sources in the Great Lakes Bioregion.
American Wind Energy Association - The mission of the AWEA is to promote wind power growth through advocacy, communication, and education.
Ann Arbor Energy Office - The Energy Office works to move the City of Ann Arbor toward more sustainable energy use by managing projects and programs, developing information resources, and providing expert advice.
State of Michigan Energy Office - The Energy Office promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy resource development to Michigan's residents, businesses and public institutions.
SUR Energy Systems - Michigan's premier provider of renewable energy products and services, with extensive experience in commercial and residential applications.
Ecology and Environment
Ecology Center - Founded by community activists after the country's first Earth Day in 1970, the Ecology Center is now a regional leader that works for a safe and healthy environment where people live, work, and play.
Sierra Club - The Sierra Club is a non-profit, member-supported, public interest organization that promotes conservation of the natural environment by influencing public policy decisions--legislative, administrative, legal, and electoral.
 
 
Local Foods and Urban Agriculture
Food Gatherers - Food Gatherers exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community by: reducing food waste through the rescue and distribution of perishable and non perishable food; coordinating with other hunger relief providers; educating the public about hunger; and developing new food resources.
Growing Hope - Based in Washtenaw County, Michigan, Growing Hope works with neighborhoods, schools, community groups, and families to develop and sustain gardens. They also work to increase local food security through our Downtown Ypsilanti Farmers' Market and other efforts that improve access to healthy, affordable food.
Project Grow - Project Grow Community Gardens provide the space, education, and inspiration to make organic gardening accessible to all. The Community Gardens are located at various sites around Ann Arbor which are loaned to us by landowners such as the City of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor Public Schools and local churches.
 
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Recycle Ann Arbor - Founded in 1977, RAA is nationally recognized as an established leader in recycling programs, and has been instrumental in diverting recyclable waste from landfills and reducing pressure on natural resources.
EnHouse - The Environmental House Energy & Green Building Resource Center (EnHouse) is a comprehensive resource and touring facility dedicated to furthering the causes of green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy.