Introduction
Minnesota Green Communities recognizes that the success of the initiative depends to a great extent on the expertise that has been developed within the state’s research, design, construction, and environmental fields. Below is a list of local organizations and resources that may be helpful in the development of green affordable housing in Minnesota. This is by no means a comprehensive list. If you have local or national resources that you would like to add to the list, please e-mail janne@mngreencommunities.org.

Green Communities Criteria
Basic information on the Green Communities Criteria and a request form to receive the full technical manual.

The Re-Use Center/DeConstruction Services
A non-profit enterprise committed to offering the highest quality reclaimed and surplus building products at the lowest prices! We're recognized metro-wide for our wide array of kitchen cabinetry, doors, windows, wood flooring, paneling and decking, granite and solid surface counters, ceramic and stone tile, claw foot tubs, spa baths, pedestal sinks, vanities, toilets, carpet, lighting, mantels, millwork/trim, and more. Deconstruction is construction in reverse: dismantling buildings by hand and saving the materials to be used again instead of sending them to the landfill. Demolition creates waste, but deconstruction creates jobs and reusable materials.

Upper Mississippi Certified Forest Products Group
A group of small businesses with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification. We offer FSC-certified wood products.

Conservation Technologies
Conservation Technologies' background is in building construction, the performance of buildings, and energy issues in general. Conservation Technologies sells energy efficient building supplies, Venmar heat recovery ventilation systems, and solar electric and hot water systems. They also consult in building design and performance and work with various utilities on the design and delivery of energy efficiency and conservation programs. Their support team that includes sales, installation and technical support professionals.

EcoHome at Hawk's Ridge
Women in Construction build a demonstration home in Duluth, and the related website has detailed information about the home plans, performance, and construction process.

ECO—Environmentally Conscious Options
This new retail outlet sells environmentally friendly interior & exterior finish products, including flooring, counter tops, cabinetry, sinks, glass and ceramic tile, lighting, earth plaster, outdoor furniture, rain barrels, pervious surfaces, and more! Located at 415 Minneapolis Ave., Duluth, MN 55803. Phone 218- 213-8616, or Email.

Center for Energy and Environment
Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) delivers practical, cost-effective energy efficiency evaluations, retrofits, and analyses. CEE’s engineers and technicians use diagnostic tests, energy audits, utility bill analysis, weatherization techniques, and equipment retrofits to achieve proven energy efficient results for multifamily and single family residential properties. In some locations, they can also provide support in identifying home improvement financing.

Living Green Expo (exhibitor and workshop list)
Every May, the Living Green Expo provides information and products to help Minnesotans improve the environmental and social impacts of their day-to-day living. The Expo features over 200 exhibitors of products, services, and information, along with over 60 workshops on a variety of sustainability and green living topics.

Minnesota GreenStar
Minnesota has a new green building standard and certification program for new homes and remodeling.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
The MPCA provides information, directories, resources, and links to case studies of sustainable building. Especially handy is a feature to link to tools to identify a variety of green building professionals.

Energy & Environmental Building Association
The EEBA provides training and resources to transform the residential design, development and construction industries to profitably deliver energy efficiency and environmentally responsible buildings and communities.

Department of Commerce
Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) provides information on CIP resources and contacts for residential and affordable housing projects.

Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (MOEA)
The MOEA provides information, directories, resources, and links to case studies of sustainable building.

NextStep, Minnesota's Sustainable Communities Network
MSCN provides a biweekly e-mail newsletter on sustainability, lists resources and grants, calenders events, and has 12 topic areas including green building and energy.

Minnesota Green Affordable Housing Guide
The guide is a web-based tool developed by the Center for Sustainable Building Research to address how to make affordable housing that is also energy efficient, healthy, durable, and has a low environmental impact.

Building Benchmarks and Beyond (B3) State of Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines
The Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines (v2.0) are designed to document the actual costs and benefits of sustainable building.

Minnesota Sustainable Design Guide
A tool to learn about sustainability, manage design decisions, and integrate sustainable design into the building design and operation processes for new and renovated facilities.

Greater Minnesota Housing Fund's Building BetterNeighborhoods
A program designed to foster the creation of safe, decent and affordable housing within cohesive, well-planned and economically balanced neighborhoods.

Natural Built Home
This new Twin Cities-based store provides safe and sustainable building supplies. They offer everything from healthy paints to dual-flush toilets as well as the knowledge and resources to install them in your home.

Environmental Building News
This leading on-line publication includes in-depth, carefully researched articles and news on sustainable design and construction issues. A monthly newsletter targets builders, architects, and consumers.

Green Building Supply
An Iowa based distributor of environmentally friendly and sustainable building materials and home furnishings, that is accessible through a user-friendly site full of green product information.

Dovetail Partners, Inc.
Dovetail is a nonprofit organization that collaborates to develop unique concepts, systems, programs and models to foster sustainable forestry and catalyze responsible trade and consumption.

LEED Accredited Professionals Directory
Search for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professionals in your area.

The Costs and Benefits of Green Affordable Housing
The study, undertaken by New Ecology and the Tellus Institute, is comprised of 16 case studies of affordable housing projects from around the country.

Building Science Corporation
For residents of a green home to fully realize the environmental, health, and economic benefits their home can offer, it needs regular maintenance and proper use.  It is important to provide owners information about the green systems or features installed on their homes.  This is a sample homeowners manual.

Rural Renewable Energy Alliance
An organization committed to bringing solar heat to low-income households in Minnesota who qualify for Energy Assistance.