Last revised: July 2009
Architecture Resources Gateway - Green and Sustainable Buildings
Concepts: Sustainable architecture strategies; natural building methods; energy-use reduction; renewable resources; adaptive reuse; waste reduction.
Sustainably designed buildings aim to lessen their impact on the environment through energy and resource efficiency. Engaging in green and sustainable architecture projects requires a specific skill set and knowledge base. This guide focuses on up-to-date resources that provide a broad perspective on green and sustainable design.
This guide functions as an independent entity in a series designed for the new and returning architecture researcher. Consult the entire series at Architecture Resources Gateway.
Table of Contents
Useful Reference Books
- American Institute of Architects. Environmental Resource Guide. New York : John Wiley, 1996.
LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Reference
CALL NUMBER: NA2542.35 .E73 1996 - Montoya, Michael. Green building fundamentals : a practical guide to understanding and applying fundamental sustainable construction practices and the LEED green building rating system Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2010.
LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Stacks
CALL NUMBER: TH880 .M66 2010 - U.S. Green Building Council. LEED for existing buildings version 2.0 reference guide. Washington, DC: The Council, 2006.
LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Reference
CALL NUMBER: TH880 .E95 2006 - Wilson, Alex and Mark Piepkorn. Green building products: the GreenSpec® guide to residential building materials. Brattleboro, VT: BuildingGreen, 2008.
LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Reference
CALL NUMBER: TH445 .G739 2008 - Yudelson, Jerry. Green Building A to Z: understanding the language of green building. Gabriola, B.C.: New Society Publishers, 2007.
LOCATION: Architecture Library Stacks
CALL NUMBER: TH880 .Y93 2007 - Yudelson, Jerry. Green building through integrated design. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.
LOCATION: Architecture Library Stacks
CALL NUMBER: TH880 .Y635 2009
Subject Headings (catalog keywords)
Use these when browsing in the catalog - pick "subject beginning with" as the type of search. You will get a list with further subject breakdowns and can see what might be useful to you. An example of this kind of search is pictured below the list.
- Architecture - Environmental aspects
- Buildings - Environmental engineering
- Green Products
- Green Technology
- Intelligent buildings
- Organic architecture
- Urbanization - Environmental aspects
Some Relevant Databases
- Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
The primary article index for architecture and all aspects of environmental design and planning. -
BuildingGreen
For environmental building news, products from GreenSpec Directory, and project case studies from High-Performance Buildings Database. - Environmental Science & Pollution Management
Provides comprehensive coverage of the environmental sciences from over 4000 scientific journals and other sources. - Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe
Good for news, political, legal,and business citations as well as primary source newspaper articles.
Hint:You may also want to look at the Environmental Studies database subject category in Research Port; databases there cover a variety of topics related to environmental policy, codes and sciences.
Journals to Browse
These journals contain up-to-date information on the important trends and developments in green and sustainable architecture. To look for full-text electronic coverage of a journal, use the journals tab in Research Port.
- Green places
LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Current periodicals and Periodical Stacks
CALL NUMBER:SB469 .L3312 - Journal of green building
LOCATION: Architecture Library Current periodicals - Architectural Record-Green Architect
LOCATION: UMCP Architecture Library Current periodicals and Periodical Stacks
CALL NUMBER: NA1 .A6
Available Online
Special UM Resources
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Library
- National Center for Smart Growth Research & Education
- Visual Resources Collection in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation Building
Websites and Digital Collections to Consider
- Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS)
- GreenHOME
- Smart Growth in Maryland (look under 'Smart Growth')
- Smart Growth Network
- Sustainable Architecture, Building and Culture
- United States Green Building Council: Green Building Links
Strategic Research
Good research is complicated, especially in the digital and academic environments. No guide can begin to cover all the sources available, so Ask a Librarian when you need more information. Contact the subject area specialists for more information or to design a strategic and specific research plan: lotis@umd.edu, 301-405-9260 or pcossard@umd.edu, 301-405-6316.
This guide was authored by Kim Detterbeck and Lara Otis.
