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Research Resources
William McDonough + Partners are pleased to see the swelling ranks of people who, conscious of sustainable efforts, have become interested in researching, promoting and employing eco-effective design strategies. While we cannot respond to individual requests for assistance, we are pleased to provide you with the following online resources.
AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
McDonough.com
William McDonough’s website includes a large section of his writings as well as his biography. This site, in combination with the news section of the WM+P site, provide an abundance of articles for general research on the Internet regarding Mr. McDonough’s global initiatives.
MBDC
MBDC is a product and process design firm dedicated to revolutionizing the design of products and services worldwide. William McDonough and Dr. Michael Braungart founded MBDC in 1995 to promote and shape what they call the "Next Industrial Revolution" through the introduction of a new design paradigm called Cradle to CradleSM, and the implementation of eco-effective design principles.
Cradle to Cradle Certification
MBDC's Cradle to CradleSM certification process examines products at many levels to ensure they meet key standards for ecologically-effective design. Basic certification levels include Biological Nutrient or Technical Nutrient -- both of which are evaluated in terms of human and ecological health, intended for simple products -- and Platinum, Gold or Silver which are evaluated to meet additional standards including energy, water and social criteria. The strict MBDC certification processes provide corporations proof and validation of their products' quality, performance, and ecological intelligence, all of which are designed to enhance a product's market value.
GreenBlue
GreenBlue uses design as a leverage point for effective action. Many of society's challenges are caused by poorly designed industrial systems ... systems that are providing alarming feedback at all scales, from toxic mothers' milk to holes in the ozone layer. GreenBlue asks: How can we design, prototype, and realize better products and systems? GreenBlue asks this question in specific contexts to reveal practical design and business opportunities. GreenBlue achieves success through projects and partnerships. GreenBlue is recognized for its ability to convene stakeholders, establish ambitious objectives, and develop practical design tools and resources.
Business Council on Climate Change
When it comes to ecological stewardship, the Business Council on Climate Change (BC3) believes in leading by example. Comprised of San Francisco Bay Area business leaders, BC3 is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing the Principles on Climate Leadership. Serving as a model of responsible corporate operations and culture, BC3 advocates transparancy of research and collective action.
Green Building Finance Consortium
The Green Building Finance Consortium is a group of investment, trade, and real estate professionals conducting independent research and analysis of the value and risks associated with developing sustainable properties. GBFC's overall mission is to enable increased private sector involvement in green building. The group aims to create a fiduciary framework from which to speak towards methods of investment, lending, and implementation of eco-effective practice. This framework includes the underwriting practices, tools, and valuation methodologies necessary to openly translate the costs and benefits of green construction to private industry.
Sustainable Packaging Coalition
A project of GreenBlue, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition is an industry working group dedicated to transforming packaging into a system that encourages economic prosperity and a sustainable flow of materials. Inspired by cradle to cradle principles, the Coalition advocates and communicates a positive, robust environmental vision for packaging and supports innovative, functional packaging materials and systems that promote economic and environmental health through supply chain collaboration.
THIRD-PARTY RESOURCES
The American Institute of Architects
Since 1857, the AIA has represented the professional interests of America's architects. As AIA members, over 74,000 licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners express their commitment to excellence in design and livability in our nation's buildings and communities. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct that assures the client, the public, and colleagues of an AIA-member architect's dedication to the highest standards in professional practice.
U.S. Green Building Council
The U.S. Green Building Council is the nation’s foremost coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
WBCSD brings together some 180 international companies that share a mission to provide business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development, and to support the business license to operate, innovate and grow in a world increasingly shaped by sustainable development issues.
Sustainable Sources: Green Builder
Sustainable Sources was created in 1993 to provide a one-stop online resource center for sustainablity - specifically, green building, sustainable agriculture, and responsible planning. We started with a bulletin board service (which continued through early 2000), and within a few months created the beginnings of our website.
Athena Institute
The Athena Institute is dedicated to sustainability of the built environment, a goal that can only be achieved by meeting the building community's need for better information and tools. From its Canadian offices, and through its US affiliate, Athena Institute International, the not-for-profit Athena organization undertakes and directs various research and development activities that make it possible to factor environmental considerations into the design process from the conceptual stage onward. Over the past decade, the Institute has developed a worldwide reputation in the field of sustainable building and life cycle assessment (LCA). The Institute shares its knowledge and expertise through groundbreaking software, world-class LCA databases and customized consulting services.
Co-op America
Co-op America’s mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is the nation’s foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s most important landscapes and waterways. Through its partnership-driven approach, the Fund works across all 50 states to preserve each region's unique natural resources, cultural heritage and historic places.
Go Zero
The Conservation Fund has launched a new program that makes it easy and affordable for individuals, corporations, or even entire communities to Go ZeroSM by measuring and then offsetting their carbon dioxide emissions – simply by planting trees.
Renewable Energy Choice
Renewable Choice connects producers and consumers of wind power throughout the U.S., providing a key service for the expansion and growth of the domestic wind-power market. Renewable Choice has assisted WM+P in offsetting our electricity use through the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) from mid-west wind farms.
Natural Resources Defense Council
NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science and the support of 1.2 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.
Environmental Defense
Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 400,000 members. Since 1967, we have linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems.
Scorecard
Scorecard is the web's most popular resource for information about pollution problems and toxic chemicals. Find out about the pollution problems in your community and learn who is responsible. See which geographic areas and companies have the worst pollution records. Identify which racial/ethnic and income groups bear more than their share of environmental burdens. Then take action as an informed citizen - you can fax a polluting company, contact your elected representatives, or get involved in your community.
World Wildlife Fund
Known worldwide by its panda logo, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) leads international efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats. Now in its fifth decade, WWF works in more than 100 countries around the globe to conserve the diversity of life on earth. With nearly 1.2 million members in the U.S. and another 4 million worldwide, WWF is the world's largest privately financed conservation organization.
DOE High-Performance Database
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, the HPB db provides detailed information and research that seeks to improve building performance measuring methods by collecting data on various factors that affect a building's performance, such as energy, materials, and land use. The database collects information from buildings around the world, ranging from homes and commercial interiors to large buildings and even whole campuses and neighborhoods.
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
A not-for-profit industry association that works to promote the industry throughout North America, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities seeks to increase the awareness of the economic, social, and environmental benefits of green roof infrastructure across North America and rapidly advance the development of the market for green roof products and services.
Green Infrastructure Valuation Calculator
Learn what green infrastructure is and does. Learn how the use of green infrastructure saves money. Understand the costs and benefits of using green infrastructure to mitigate the need for different types of built water infrastructure, such as sewers and detention basins.
The Creative Gallery on Sustainable Communities
The first international online database of corporate and public advertising campaigns specifically dedicated to sustainability issues and classified by sustainability themes.
The Urban Land Institute
With over 34,000 members worldwide, The Urban Land Institute is a leading non-profit organization researching land use trends, issues, and practice. ULI studies and provides guidance on smart growth and sustainable development solutions.
Architecture 2030
Architecture 2030 is comprised of intrepid members of the global building community who are committed to combatting climate change with innovative design. Architects and planners are invited to adopt the 2030 °Challenge list of targets to create high-performance and ultimately, carbon-neutral developments.
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