Resources

The Greater Triangle Stewardship Development Awards program encourages everyone to make a difference in the development and conservation of local communities. Visit these national and local resources to help educate yourself on how you can make a difference.

Source Water Protection Program http://swap.deh.enr.state.nc.us/swap
The Source Water Protection Program promotes long term planning for protection of the State's public drinking water sources. The first step in protecting these sources is to understand where they are, what land areas have influence on their water quality and what activity is occurring on and around the land areas that pose a risk or protect the source. To address this need, our program has defined and mapped "drinking water assessment areas" and has published these maps, along with complete assessment results on our website. The Source Water Protection Program encourages the public to be aware of the presence of these valuable resources and to take actions to protect them. Program staff are eager to assist with any source water protection questions you may have.

Low Impact Development:  A Guide for North Carolina
This guide from NCSU provides technical and policy guidance on low impact development principles and practices.

Green Growth Toolbox
This site provides guidance from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission on nature-friendly planning and site design.

Green Home Builders of the Triangle (GHBT)
This program is a joint effort of the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties and the HBA of Raleigh-Wake County.  With the goal of “bringing green to the mainstream,” the GHBT program encourages the construction of certified green homes and developments.  The program also provides education on green-building topics for builders, vendors, and the general public.  The program’s certification services are based on the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard™, which is a consensus-based standard released by the American National Standards Institute.  Developers may have a new or existing development certified as a whole or in phases through the NAHBGreen program. Developers may also get a Letter of Approval after a Design Review but before development work is started. The letter of approval will indicate that the development is eligible to be certified if constructed in accordance with the approved plan.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

North Carolina HealthyBuilt Homes Program
The NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program provides a certificate for homes meeting "green home guidelines" built by residential builders who practice sustainable, high performance building strategies making the home a comfortable, healthy and affordable place that reduces energy and water usage, promotes renewable energy use and helps protect the land where the home is built.

ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Low Impact Development Center
The Low Impact Development Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of Low Impact Development technology. Low Impact Development is a new, comprehensive land planning and engineering design approach with a goal of maintaining and enhancing the pre-development hydrologic regime of urban and developing watersheds.

NCSU Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Stormwater Research & Publications
The BAE Stormwater Engineering Group is a team consisting of tenure and non-tenure track faculty, graduate students, part-time associates, and off-campus Extension Faculty. Our mission is to "learn and teach" stormwater management and cover the three main aspects of a land-grant university: (1) applied research, (2) extension and engagement, and (3) on- and off-campus teaching.

Water Use it Wisely
There are a number of ways to save water, and they all start with you. Visit this interactive website and test your own conservation practices by taking the Home Water Audit.

North Carolina Solar Center
Created in 1988, the North Carolina Solar Center serves as a clearinghouse for solar and other renewable energy programs, information, research, technical assistance, and training for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. Through its programs and services, the Solar Center seeks to stabilize energy costs for consumers, stimulate local economies, reduce dependence on foreign fuels, and mitigate the environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension
North Carolina Cooperative Extension gives our residents easy access to the resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension field faculty deliver unbiased, research-based information to North Carolina citizens. We can answer your questions on a wide array of topics. To find out how we can help you, browse our site or contact us by email or phone.

WECO — Watershed Education for Communities and Officials
WECO's goal is to develop local capacity for collaborative natural resource management in North Carolina. Since 1997, WECO has been facilitating local watershed planning and restoration, providing outreach tools on water resources and collaboration, and helping communities to build partnerships and find solutions for natural resource issues. As North Carolina continues to grow, WECO has responded to needs for education and facilitation on emerging issues such as low impact development and local sustainability planning.

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