If you are just beginning to learn about your topic, start your research by reading an overview of it in one or more more specialized encyclopedias and handbooks, such as those listed below. This will help you to identify the most important aspects of the subject and determine which sources of information will be most helpful as you continue with your research. Remember to look under both specific topics and broader ones--for example, check both green products and sustainable buildings. Listed to the left are some suggestions for topics.
Once you have a general knowledge of your topic, you can move on to finding books, magazines and journal articles, government publications, audio and visual media, web sites, and other sources of information. Just follow the tabs at the top of this page.
Some good overviews of green design and construction topics are listed below.
Green Building A to Z: understanding the language of green building by Listed below are some topics within the broad subject of green design and construction. You can use these phrases when doing subject searches in the Library Catalog (Books &Media) and the indexes suggested throughout this guide. Not every one of these topics will be in every source, but these are the terms that are used most often.
Building Materials--Environmental Aspects
Buildings--Energy Conservation
Ecological Landscape Design
Construction Industry--Appropriate Technology
Earth Houses
Environmental Engineering
Green Products
Green Roofs (Gardening)
Green Technology
LEED
Straw Bale Houses
Sustainable Architecture
Sustainable Buildings--Design and Construction
Sustainable Construction
Sustainable Design
Sustainable Development
Sustainable Living
