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Driven by rising energy costs and environmental concern, a trend is taking shape in cities and neighborhoods across the country. According to the National Association of Home Builders, green building increased 20 percent in 2005. And this past fall, the US Green Building Council added a certification program for green homes.

Global Green USA’s new book, Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing, tells builders, architects, developers and affordable housing managers how they can reduce their utility bills and energy costs. The book describes best practices for green building, tips and tricks of the trade for building greener, cost-saving buildings on small budgets.

Utility bills and housing costs are becoming major drains on the average family’s income. One in seven families pays more than half its income for housing, according a June 2007 survey by the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

“Rising energy costs are a huge drag on family budgets and on the economy as a whole,” said Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy at a Senate hearing on fuel assistance this week.

Transforming a residence to a more energy-saving, green home does not necessarily require an entire facelift. Upgrades in insulation, plumbing, energy-saving appliances, and flooring and roofing materials can make utilities bill shrink, and create more comfortable, healthier homes.

Tips from Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing include:

1. Install ENERGY STAR or pin-type fluorescent lighting and ENERGY STAR appliances

2. Design for natural ventilation and passive heating and cooling

3. Design for natural daylight

4. Use trees to shade elevations facing the east or west

5. Install light-colored or green roofs

6. Seal all plumbing and electrical penetrations

7. Install a timer delay or humidistat on the bathroom fan

8. Use low-water plumbing fixtures

9. Use recycled-content insulation, carpet, and drywall

10. Install a carbon monoxide detector

“Global Green USA aims to make green design affordable and accessible to everyone,” said environmentalist and Oberlin College Professor, David W. Orr.

Global Green USA, a national environmental organization has helped developers plan and build over 600 healthy, environmentally-conscious housing units. Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing explores a wide range of case studies colorfully describing the unique features of developments in cities like Atlanta, Georgia; Seattle, Washington; and Chicago, Illinois, considering each of the projects’ financing and green building strategies. Blueprint for Greening Affordable Housing is published by IslandPress and is available on their website.

Check back soon: BuildingGreen TV will feature a series of excerpts from these case studies here in the coming weeks.

I’m a knowledge dork and I openly admit it. As a kid, the most likely place to find me would be a) the library or b) the bookstore. While I am no Stephen Hawking, I can’t help but delve into the hows, whys, and what-ifs of the world. As my concern for the environment has flourished in the past ten years, I can’t help but feel a bit of a shiver when I walk into my favorite book seller these days - where did all the paper for those books come from? 

Though I would like to believe that a large chunk of publishers use post-consumer recycled content for their releases, I’ve found that just isn’t the case. There are over 80,000 different book publishers in the United States, yet only 140 of them (for the math fans, that’s .18%) have signed a treatise to improve their eco-footprint. Let’s not forget that some publishers already use a percentage of post-consumer recycled paper for the printing of their materials, but it is clear that it is not nearly enough. Factoring in all of the US publishers, a total of 5% of all paper used in production is made with some percentage of recycled material.

As consumers, it is our job to help speak out and make a difference … but if that means not buying books, I’m going to have some serious mental issues. Thankfully, a company has recently been established to help the plight of the book industry - Eco-Libris. For every five books that you read and offset via the company’s website, five trees will be planted in developing countries to help maximum the impact. In turn, you will be sent five stickers to put on the books you have offset, letting the world know you have made a positive impact. Let me guess - you are already wondering what the stickers are made of, no? Do not fret, they are made with recycled paper, along with non-toxic inks and glues.

I was recently honored with the opportunity to speak with both Eco-Libris CEO, Raz Godelnik, and Head of Business Development, Eylon Israely. Read on to find out more about Eco-Libris, how they are helping to change the world of books, and how three unique non-profits factor in to their business plan.

READ THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW HERE!