The New York City Chapter of IFMA, International Facility Management Association
Chapter Resources
Going GREEN
Sustainable Organizations and Information
The following links are websites to sustainable organizations:
The IFMA Green Zone
Represents IFMA's commitment to sustainability, high-performance buildings, energy efficiency and the triple bottom line by providing education, resources, tools and products for facility professionals.
US Department of Energy
Energy is the vital force powering business, manufacturing, and the transportation of goods and services to serve the American and world economies. Energy supply and demand plays an increasingly vital role in our national security and the economic output of our nation. It is not surprising that the United States spends over 500 billion dollars annually on energy.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
Advances technology to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.
The Building Commissioning Association
Members of the BCA are dedicated building commissioning professionals, as well as associates who have an interest in the building commissioning profession. All members agree to the BCA Attributes of Commissioning document, and agree to the BCA's Peer Review Concept
Natural Resource Defense Council
Find out about easy, everyday actions you can take to protect your health, your home and the planet. Share tips and talk with others who care about their world -- and take more action if you want.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
A public benefit corporation created in 1975 under Article 8, Title 9 of the State Public Authorities Law through the reconstitution of the New York State Atomic and Space Development Authority. NYSERDA’s earliest efforts focused solely on research and development with the goal of reducing the State’s petroleum consumption. Subsequent research and development projects focused on topics including environmental effects of energy consumption, development of renewable resources, and advancement of innovative technologies.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Born in the wake of elevated concern about environmental pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency opened its doors in downtown Washington, D.C., on December 2, 1970. EPA was established to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection EPA's mission is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment—air, water, and land—upon which life depends. For more than 30 years, the EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people.
Green roof technology, products, and services www.greenroofs.com
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
Find news about the Society and its programs. IESNA publishes a variety of technical documents on illumination that are available through the online bookstore, along with other lighting-related publications which encourage good lighting design.
How your community can adopt sustainable development as a strategy for well-being www.smartcommunities.ncat.org
A building professional's guide to more than 90 environmentally-appropriate technologies and practices. Architects, engineers and buildings managers can improve the energy and resource efficiency of commercial, industrial and multi-unit residential buildings through the use of the technologies and practices described in this web site www.advancedbuildings.org/
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
A nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.
DOE's Building Energy Codes Program
An information resource on national model energy codes. We work with other government agencies, state and local jurisdictions, national code organizations, and industry to promote stronger building energy codes and help states adopt, implement, and enforce those codes
Get information about the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, including general information about the lab, how to locate NREL Employees, how we operate and do business, and how you can do business with us.Learn about NREL's research and development of renewable fuels and electricity that advance national energy goals to change the way we power our homes, businesses, and cars.
The mission of the American Wind Energy Association is to promote wind power growth through advocacy, communication, and education.
President Bush's remarks at the Major Economies Meeting focused on the need to address climate change through the use of advanced clean energy technologies: http://www.eere.energy.gov/
The Green-e logo is the nationally recognized symbol for certified renewable energy. Green-e is the nation's leading independent certification and verification program for renewable energy and companies that use renewable energy.
The Green Building Resource Guide is a database of over 600 green building materials and products selected specifically for their usefulness to the design and building professions, rather than merely their green material content.
The 2006 Globescan Survey of Sustainability Experts again ranked the website of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) as the best source of information on sustainable development.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.
General Services Administration
The Long Term Planning and Sustainability Office coordinates and oversees efforts to develop and implement a strategic vision for the City's future working with City agencies and the Mayor's Advisory Board for Sustainability. http://www.nyc.gov/
A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.
Many Federal agencies have made the switch from the use of conventional cleaning products to green cleaning products and services. To learn more about these pioneers in greening janitorial services contract, visit the following web sites:
Department of the Interior Greening the Janitorial Business
Cleaning Products Pilot Project (co-sponsored by EPA and GSA)
Where can I get a list of cleaning products that have been certified as green?
The federal government does not certify green products. However, many government contracts for green cleaning services reference the Green Seal Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners (GS-37).
GS-37 is applicable for all purpose, bathroom, and glass cleaners. It establishes criteria for 13 factors, such as toxic compounds, carcinogens, skin and eye irritants, and combustibility. Green Seal has certified more than 5 dozen products
Where can I learn more about green cleaners?
EPA's Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program provides a wealth of information on the Federal government's "Cleaning Products Pilot Project" and features three interactive purchasing decision wizards for use by contracting officers and contracting officer technical representatives.
The Center for a New American Dream (CNAD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life and promote social justice. CNAD established a Procurement Strategies Program in 1998 to respond to the demand for more environmentally preferable goods and services by helping state and local government incorporate environmental considerations into purchasing decisions. One result is a multi-organization agreement on green cleaning criteria. http://www.newdream.org/
The EPA/GSA Cleaning Products Pilot Project (CPPP) was established in 1993 as a cooperative interagency effort between GSA and EPA. The effort sought to identify environmentally preferable cleaning products in five product categories: daily use products, floor care systems, carpet cleaners, sweeping compounds, and de-icing compounds. CPPP was the first pilot project designed and conducted to identify and compare environmentally preferable products. As such, it provides valuable "lessons learned" for managers of other green purchasing pilot efforts. http://www.ofee.gov/gp/greenjanitorial.html
Interested in who's using green cleaners at the state and local level? Check out these web sites:
To read about the State of Massachusetts' pioneering efforts in developing green cleaning contract language. http://www.state.ma.us/osd/enviro/products/cleaning.htm
To find out about the experience of Minnesota's Office of Environmental Assistance http://www.moea.state.mn.us/lc/purchasing/cleaners.cfm
