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AIA Materials Matter Initiative AIA Materials Matter Initiative

Knowing where our materials come from, what’s in them, how they were made, and how long they’ll persist in the environment beyond the life of a building gives us greater control over our projects and product decisions - helping us become better advocates for enhancing design of a healthier, greener, more prosperous, and more equitable built environment.

Aquaponic Greenhouse Aquaponic Greenhouse

Prolific system for growing an abundance of greens and fish that is fertilizer and pesticide free  Local, affordable, live root, organic, pesticide free produce 365 day of each year.  A potentially disruptive correctIve disruption to our relationships with our ubiquitous industrial food chain practices.

Building Green Building Green

An online resource for environmentally sensitive building design research, translatIng technical information on energy efficiency and other environmental topics for building professionals and the general public.

Cascadia Green Building Council Cascadia Green Building Council

A regional network of green building professionals and advocates.  The Cascadia Green Building Coalition’s mission is to convene a community of practitioners that are committed to advancing green building practices throughout the 'Cascadia' region.

    Consumer Notice Consumer Notice

    Consumer Notice is a consumer advocacy organization that informs the public about the health and safety risks associated with defective products, environmental dangers and other hazards and presents legal options to those who have been injured through the fault of another person or entity.

    Design Philosophy Papers Design Philosophy Papers

    Promoting greater recognition for the study of design by the intellectual community at large.  Architecture is about ideas before it is about building, and the dynamic interaction of philosophical discourse is fundamental to architectural theory and thought.

    Elemental Green Elemental Green

    The percentage of firms expecting to have more than 60% of their projects certified green has grown from 16% in 2016 to 32% in 2018. Building pros report that they expect that percentage to grow to 45% by 2021. More people are also developing innovative, new, green materials to take advantage of this growing marketplace opportunity.

    Green Building Advisor Green Building Advisor

    An online resource for sustainable building design research, dedicated to providing the most useful, accurate, and complete information about designing, building, and remodeling energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthy buildings.  All the editors at GreenBuildingAdvisor.com are former builders, remodelers, and designers.

    Healthy Stuff Healthy Stuff

    Healthy Stuff tests everyday household items for toxic chemicals.  Healthy Stuff is based on research conducted by environmental health organizations and other researchers.  The Ecology Center is a nonprofit organization that works at the local, state, and national levels for clean production, healthy communities, and environmental justice.

    High Country Gardens High Country Gardens

    David Salman specializes in propagating and growing waterwise plants. He has introduced more than 50 improved hybrid, Old World and native plants sold through High Country Gardens over the past 20 years. He focuses on the breeding and improvement of cold hardy, xeric (water-wise), ornamental and habitat improving plants.

    Kinfolk Kinfolk

    Kinfolk is the marriage of an appreciation for art and design and spending time with family and friends.  Sample: "As a child, I read somewhere that God gave humanity metaphor to help us better understand the world. But we don’t need religion to see that the more complex or powerful a sensation, the more words fail us."

    Norwex Norwex

    Radically reducing the use of chemicals in personal care and cleaning to promote health.  Norwex  advocates for using far fewer harmful chemicals in our homes.

    Origin Origin

    Comprehensive research data base for certified building materials.

    Passive House Institute Passive House Institute

    The Passive House Institute (PHI) is an independent research institute that has played a crucial role in the development of the Passive House concept - the only internationally recognised, performance-based energy standard in construction.

    Passive House Institute US Passive House Institute US

    Creating commerical and residential buildings so well designed that traditional heating and air conditioning equipment can be eliminated, saving eighty to ninety percent of energy use compared to mainstream construction.

    Perkins & Will Architectural Research Labs Perkins & Will Architectural Research Labs

    "Practice-informed research for a research- informed practice."  A wealth of architectural research on a broad range of topics.  "We’re creators and curators of intelligence. By constantly asking questions—by pushing the boundaries to know more—we stay on the cutting edge." 

    Pharos Pharos

    The Pharos Project connects you to a network of building professionals and manufacturers committed to transparency as a core value. A resource for investigating of building materials for concerns related to health, sustainability, and resilience.

    SIREWALL SIREWALL

    The best walls on the planet... the best walls for the planet.  SIREWALL - Stabilized, Insulated, Rammed Earth - is a complete wall system with the strength, durability, and beauty of sedimentary sandstone.  

    Six Classes:  Reducing Chemical Harm Six Classes: Reducing Chemical Harm

    Many of the products we use every day contain chemicals that may harm our health. Many of these substances can be grouped into “Six Classes”, each containing similar chemicals. The Six Classes approach allows us to better understand these chemicals, their functions, where they are used, and how they can be avoided. 

    Small Planet Workshop Small Planet Workshop

    Small Planet Supply is a company dedicated to the supply, education, and training in the use of energy-efficient building materials and practices. We are passionate champions of the concept that humans can build buildings to live in, while caring for and restoring the environment. 

    The Living Building Challenge The Living Building Challenge

    Imagine a building designed and constructed to function as elegantly and efficiently as a flower.  The Living Building Challenge is the world’s most rigorous proven performance standard for buildings. People from around the world use our regenerative design framework to create spaces that, like a flower, give more than they take.

    The Original Green The Original Green

    Honest and coherent discussion of the most abused, and most critical, topic of our age.  Many people now agree that achieving sustainability is a bigger challenge than just buying more efficient devices. Steve Mouzon coined the phrase “Original Green” several years ago to describe the sustainability that existed before the Thermostat Age.

    U. S. Global Change Research Program U. S. Global Change Research Program

    Coordinating and integrating federal research on changes in the global environment and their implications for society.  The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is a Federal program mandated by Congress to coordinate Federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts on society

    Unearthed Unearthed

    Purely natural plasters, paints, and wood finishes.   Unearthed natural paints have been used around the world for almost 30 years (under the name Kreidezeit), and they are now available in the U.S. for the first time.

    WattzOn WattzOn

    Helping companies, communities, and individuals save energy.