ArchiveGrid offers over four million records describing archival materials, including information about historical documents, personal papers, and family histories. Over 1,000 different archival institutions are represented. ArchiveGrid helps researchers find primary source materials in archives, libraries, museums, and historical societies.
Electronic Databases on Art & Architecture are available within the Library of Congress.
This is a resource tool and source for papers and primary resources, including those of architects. It includes the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections (NUCMC) and the Library of Congress database. This current directory covers over 5,750 repositories and over 220,000 collections of primary source material across the United States and the United Kingdom.
The NUIAR, a project of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division with the group COPAR, is an index to architectural drawings held by institutions nationwide. It was compiled by the Cooperative Preservation of Architectural Records (COPAR) between 1974-1986. This attempt to index the architectural drawings held nationwide is comparable to that of the National Union Index of Manuscript Collections for manuscript holdings. The bulk of the entries in the Index were drawn from the many publications on architectural holdings published in the 1980s, such as "Architectural Research Materials in the District of Columbia" (AIA Foundation, 1983.) Compiling such information into one index significantly improved access to architectural records. Although work on the Index ceased in 1986, its value as a research tool is still recognized by current researchers.
NUCMC's goal is to describe archival and manuscript collections held by repositories in the U.S. It provides free searching of archival and manuscript cataloging in OCLC WorldCat via NUCMC gateways. Architectural papers and visual materials such as sketchbooks can be part of the collections described.
The SAH promotes the study, interpretation, and conservation of architecture, design, landscapes, and urbanism worldwide. Digital Resources listings link to 110 sites in categories including Archives/Repositories, Image Collections, Architects, and Regional Resources. The more general online information is publicly accessible, while publications and other SAH-produced resources are limited to SAH members.
Architecture 2030
A non-profit think tank transforming climate change problems into solutions through the design of the built environment
BRE Environmental Assessment Method
The British version of LEED. From Britain's Building Research Establishment, a tool to improve building performance.
Site has entries by building type
CDC Healthy Places (Archived content)
EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Green Building Council
The US Green Building Council is the building industry's only balanced nonprofit consensus coalition promoting the understanding, development and accelerated implementation of "Green Building" policies. Includes programs, resources(case studies), & quarterly reports from the council.
Green Building Information Gateway
Connecting people to data and insights for a more sustainable built environment
Green Pages - the Global Directory for Environmental Technology
Indoor Air Quality (EPA)
To improve residential & building occupant health & productivity by increasing the number of public & commercial buildings actively employing indoor air quality best practices consistent with EPA guidance.
International Living Future Institute
The Living Community Challenge is a framework for master planning, design, and construction. It is a tool to create a symbiotic relationship between people and all aspects of the built environment.
LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2000, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.
Natural Building
Information on straw-bale construction, cob, adobe, bamboo and other techniques; bibliography, photos identified with house name, place and sometimes date built.
Sustainable Building Sourcebook
Includes a variety of categories such as earth sheltered design, xeriscape, lighting, landscaping for energy conservation, photovoltaic systems.
