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Green Building Resources

The following page contains links to national and local websites to facilitate the growth of the green building industry in Long Beach. This list will remain a work in progress as the adoption of green building practices and materials continue to grow. The City of Long Beach may not be held liable for the contents of the referenced website nor the inclusion and/or omission of webpages in this list. For more resources, visit the City's Office of Climate Action and Sustainability and Zoning and Project Planning webpages.

Building Codes and Standards

  • Advanced Buildings 
    • 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 website.
  • American Society of Landscape Architect's Sustainable Design Resource Guide
  • Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability (BEES 4.0)
    • The BEES software brings to your fingertips a powerful technique for selecting cost-effective, environmentally-preferable building products.
  • Concrete Network
    • Earth's largest directory of concrete services.
  • GREENGUARD (interior products emissions testing)
    • The GREENGUARD Certification ProgramSM is an independent, third-party testing program for low-emitting products and materials. Access to the GREENGUARD Product Guide, an indoor air quality (IAQ) resource, is provided at no charge. The guide features products, which are regularly tested to ensure that their chemical and particle emissions meet acceptable IAQ pollutant guidelines and standards.
  • Greenroofs.com
    • Online directory to locate green roof professionals and materials in your area or the world.
  • GreenSpec
    • GreenSpec is BuildingGreen's premiere product information service. It contains detailed listings for more than 1,800 environmentally preferable building products with descriptions, manufacturer information, and links to additional resources.
  • Build It Green 
    Partnering with public agencies, building industry professionals, manufacturers, suppliers and nonprofits, Build It Green offers education and training, unbiased product information, technical assistance, and networking opportunities. Build It Green links consumers, building professionals and green product manufacturers. Build It Green is building its presence in Southern California and is currently working towards adoption of a state-wide voluntary residential green building standard.
  • American Indoor Air Quality Council
  • American Solar Energy Society
  • Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR): 
    Established in 1981, Architects / Designers / Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR) works for peace, environmental protection, ecological building, social justice, and the development of healthy communities.
  • Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
    BSR equips its member companies with the expertise to design and implement successful, socially responsible business policies, practices and processes.
  • Climate Action Network (CAN)
    A worldwide network of over 340 Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels.
  • Congress for the New Urbanism
    a Chicago-based non-profit organization that was founded in 1993. We work with architects, developers, planners, and others involved in the creation of cities and towns, teaching them how to implement the principles of the New Urbanism.
  • Construction Materials Recycling Association
    The first association devoted exclusively to the needs of the rapidly expanding North American construction waste & demolition debris processing and recycling industry.
  • National Association of the Remodeling Industry
    (NARI) -- NARI provides a "Certified Remodeler" designation to identify remodelers that are aware of green building.
  • Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS)
    Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization that serves as an advocate for conservation professionals and for science-based conservation practice, programs, and policy.
  • Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC)
    SBIC is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the design, affordability, energy performance, and environmental soundness of America's buildings.
  • US 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 Green Building Council
    The World Green Building Council, together with its members (made up of Green Building Councils from around the world) is committed to changing the property industry, those who produce, develop, plan, design, build, alter, or maintain the built environment, and includes building materials manufacturers and suppliers as well as clients and end use occupiers.

Residential Green Building

  • Green Guide to New Construction
    No longer a niche building technique, many homeowners and contractors now embrace green building. Check out this resource book to learn the latest in new green materials and techniques for new home construction.
  • Green Remodeling Workbook
    This short guide, prepared by Alameda County, provides detailed information about readily available residential green building materials and techniques.
  • Be Water Wise
    This website provides information about rebates for water efficient appliances and landscaping systems, as well as sustainable landscaping advise.
  • Los Angeles County Smart Gardening Guide
    Using the technique of Smart Gardening is an easy way to get a really great looking yard while using less water, energy and wasting fewer resources. Learn the latest in composting, water wise gardening and use of native plants.
  • Long Beach Green Landscaping Tips
    Tips for sustainable gardening and landscaping practices at your home or business.

Green Building Questions

Green building practices focus on improving both the environment and the health and comfort of building occupants. Proven green building techniques reduce energy, water, and materials use and improve air quality, temperature control, and access to day-light and views for building occupants. Green buildings have lower operating costs and similar construction costs to conventional buildings. Over the life of the building, significant savings are realized.

Whether we are working, learning, playing, or simply spending time with our friends and families, our time is increasingly spent inside a building. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. Often without our awareness, buildings and their supporting infrastructure affect our personal interactions, our health, our environment, and our economy.

The building industry is the largest manufacturing activity in the United States. According to the United States Department of Energy’s Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development, buildings in the United States consume over 30 percent of America’s energy, 67 percent of all electricity, and produce over 35 percent of the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions (the chief greenhouse gas). In California, buildings generate about 30 percent of the State’s solid waste materials. In addition buildings are a major source of the pollution that causes urban air quality problems and the pollutants that many scientists believe trigger climate change. Traditional building practices allow such environmental degradation and resource inefficiency by failing to integrate essential design elements at the outset.

Green building, by contrast, prescribes an integrated design approach, in which the project team – architects, interior designers, engineers, operations and maintenance staff, occupants, and the client – view the building as a whole system. From the start, design, construction, operations and maintenance, and demolition are considered and evaluated to optimize the environmental and economic performance of the building. This involves evaluating the building and its components over the entire life cycle of the building in order to accurately measure its economic, environmental and social costs.

The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and productivity. Green building practices provide the framework and tools to build in an efficient, healthy, and ecologically responsible manner. Encouraging green building practices is in the public’s interest because these techniques maximize environmental, economic and social benefits.

Many other Cities, Counties and States have embraced green building policies and have adopted Green Building Programs:

  • City of Santa Monica, CA
  • City of Portland, OR
  • City of Seattle, WA
  • City of Austin, TX
  • City of New York, NY
  • City of Scottsdale, AZ
  • City of San Jose, CA
  • City of Boulder, CO
  • City of Los Angeles, CA
  • City of San Francisco, CA
  • San Mateo County, CA
  • San Diego County, CA
  • King County, WA
  • Alameda County, CA
  • State of Pennsylvania

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED standards are produced by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.

LEED standards include:

  • LEED-NC: New commercial construction and major renovation projects
  • LEED-EB - Existing building operations
  • LEED-CI - Commercial interiors projects
  • LEED-CS - Core and shell projects
  • LEED-H - Homes
  • LEED-ND - Neighborhood development
  • LEED Application Guides: Retail, Multiple Buildings/Campuses, Schools, Healthcare, Laboratories, Lodging

LEED was created to:

  • define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
  • promote integrated, whole-building design practices
  • recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
  • stimulate green competition
  • raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
  • transform the building market

Building & Safety Contact

562.570.PMIT (7648)

411 W. Ocean Blvd., 2nd Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802

M: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
T: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
W: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
TH: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
F: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Permit Center is closed daily for lunch from Noon to 1 p.m.

411 West Ocean Blvd., 3rd Floor

Long Beach, CA 90802

562.570.LBCD (5223)

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