HOK is a leader in sustainable design. They are doing their best to be very careful about the sustainable information they are providing to the industry, to the communities and to the planet to share.

These are some of the resources and tools that HOK's people use to explore green ideas and design sustainable projects.

The Green Workplace Blog: TheGreenWorkplace.com is a leading blog for those who design, manage or occupy green workplaces

Product Evaluation Form: Assess a product's environmental impact by sending this worksheet to manufacturers

Sustainable Process by Phase: This concise resource identifies key sustainable design actions and deliverables organized by project phase

Ten Steps: From The HOK Guidebook to Sustainable Design (2nd edition), here are 10 steps for an integrated approach to sustainable design

Evaluation: HOK "ideas" is a great resource for designers. The information is reliable and very useful.

Links that might be helpful: Material selecting tool

An easy-to-use website featuring only materials with sustainable attributes, a place that stimulates discussion about defining sustainability and is a source of accurate information. A place for you to contribute user reviews and images of materials you use Helpful case studies on successful sustainable design An informative blog that discusses how design and ecology affect the world Provides consulting for: Life cycle analysis, Materials and manufacturing sourcing, Education, Strategic research and analysis, Eco-design, Material design and development.

Evaluation: Great tool for a designer. Enables designers to upload their project pictures where they have used this product.

Useful info/ Navigation: Very easy navigation. Reliable information. Variety can find almost anything on Interior design. There is a special section for materials and resources. Many articles available in Full text and Downloadable.
Evaluation: Great resource for all Interior designers.

This website resource includes a directory of green building products, sustainable materials resources, guides to designing with low energy consumption as well as a list of criteria which organization uses to select valid products and materials. While this organization is based out of the UK, the materials and products outlined are mostly used and available within Canada as well.
"Design" section of this website is a combination of different case studies case studies which focus on various implementations of green design and material selection. This is a great place to become on educated on how various materials can be used within the design of a space or a building. Each case study outlines the building methods, material criteria, and approach taken by the corresponding design team. An evaluation of the successes and failures of the material choice is also included.

How useful this resource is: I found this resource very informative, yet difficult to navigate and sort through.

Search a resource library containing over 100,000 commercial interior finishes representing over 60 leading brands. Detailed technical specifications and aesthetic characteristics are provided. Organize your projects. Sample Boards allow you to save samples and specifications by project or even create a personalized resource library.

Create design boards by dragging samples on to a digital canvas. Order samples quickly and easily. Keeps records of your sample orders and facilitates your order fulfillment.

The search tool is Interactive and very easy to navigate. Allow to search by brands, product type, environmental attributes that are grouped in two ways: by rating or certification system, and by area of environmental benefit, style, color and text. Just check off all needed characteristics and the search tool will sort them quickly for you.

Evaluation: It is not as easy to order samples if you are a student Interior designer, but a great tool to find particular products and create personal library of materials needed. Links to product manufacturers and distributors that are available in Canada.

Useful info / navigation: Overall all the information is very specific to architects, though there are few articles and tools that worth to look at:

"Writing the Green RFP. Sustainable Design Language for Consultant Requests".

"Green Building A to Z: Understanding the Language of Green Building"

"Creating the Sustainable Workplace"

"Where to find Green product."

Navigation is easy, a lot of very specific architectural info and specific language.

Evaluation: Good resource for a more thorough research on building and architecture.

Green Building Materials Guide brochure with the link to the product and Manufacturers (US), links to specification tools and third party certification.

Evaluation: Great articles about the material selection and specification. Only provide US based company and product links.

The Athena Institutte is a non-profit organization that helps architects, engineers, and other professionals with the assessment of new and existing buildings through the use and science of LCA related software, world class databases, and customized consulting services. They seek to improve the sustainability of the built environment by meeting the building community's need for better information and tools. The office is based in Merrickville, Ontario.

Evaluation: The Athena Institute provides different software and databases for both the public and private sectors in Canada as well as the United States. They don't offer much useful information on their website, and their tools are more designed for professionals dealing strictly with the structural elements and building shell, such as architects and engineers. You may find that it's not as useful for interior designers. They do offer consulting services that are applicable to new buildings, retrofits or major renovations, as well as workshops and seminars on LCA for those interested once you are in the professional field.

The Guide to Green Home Building suggests a variety of green building material options. This Guide identifies the leading types of green building materials on the market today, highlights the reasons why they are environmentally preferable and points out any negative environmental impacts associated with them. The web-site is a little confusing, but "Green Guide" tool is easy to navigate. A table format allows comparing different products without switching back and forth.

Evaluation: Great tool for a designer.

Easy navigation. Great info in the Green Zone section: Interior Design has the latest information, tips, ideas and trends for sustainable design, eco-friendly, environmental design, LEED-CI, green products, USGBC news and green office buildings. Links to product distributors.

Evaluation: Great web site for general product info.

Eco-material selection guide: http://www.holistic-interior-designs.com/ecomaterials.html

Full of free resources, advice and articles the webpage will guide you towards more environmental conscious and green lifestyle choices. Whether you need information on alternative materials, how to make the most of natural light or are looking for the low down on eco labels, it is all here. It highlights the challenges of selecting eco materials and what to consider, including information on evaluating credentials such as recycled products, labels, organizations and accreditations. The website also includes sections on specific materials and a list of manufacturers they recommend.

Evaluation: The site is extremely informative and useful for an introduction to sustainability and issues that affect material choice. The various suggestions and tips are good for home and business owners, designers and professionals. The list of manufacturers includes description, uses, advantages, disadvantages, embodied energy, source and origin of raw materials, environmental and health effects, performance, maintenance, recycled content and recyclability, disposal and biodegradable information. It's probably not as useful for the more advanced designer specifying materials for a specific look, but it is still useful for becoming more aware of specific issues pertaining everything that should be considered. My only complaint is that the google ads that cannot be moved or closed are poorly placed and cover some of the text when you browse the website.

Links that might be helpful:

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/forestry.cfm?id=smartsource_program

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/forestry.cfm?id=smartwood_program

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/profiles/documents/south_cone.pdfRainforest Alliance was established in 1989 and was the world's first forestry certification program. SmartSource, SmartWood and TREES are programs that are responsible for the conservation of forests in various ways and are based in over 20 countries. Through its programs, the Rainforest Alliance provides ways for consumers to use trees and non-timber products without degrading and depleting forests and their ecosystems.

SmartSource is a program that helps companies improve their forest product purchasing practices by aiding them in meeting their sustainability goals. It is customized to companies such as manufacturers, retailers, packaging consumers and office and communications papers. SmartSource helps these companies develop and implement a sensible and realistic purchasing plan; help the company understand its supply chain and track its impact and communicate its value on forests.

SmartWood is a forest management certifier and verifier program that sets the gold international standard for credibility through thorough examination and assessment of environmentally and socially responsible forestry. It certifies the world's leading Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). These audits have made over 2,688 companies in over 65 countries aware of the impact they are having on the planets forests and they are now implementing techniques for the harvesting and process wood, while maintaining and conserving the forests and the millions of animal and plant species that exist in these forests. Companies that are certified are aware of new scientific and helpful information that will assist them in their choice of becoming a sustainable and environmentally responsible company.

How useful and easy it is to navigate:
The Rainforest Alliance website is quite simple to use and includes a substantial amount of information. There are no direct links to other certification programs aside from the programs that branch from the Rainforest Alliance but it does have a great deal of in depth stories about the work that they do. It is essential to know what information you are looking for because of the amount provided.

How broad is the information provided:
The information on the website is very substantial and includes many examples of the work that they are doing worldwide to help large and small forests maintain their certification as well as help those who are not certified, receive their certification.

Evaluation:
This website is an excellent source for finding companies in Canada and the United States that are Rainforest Alliance certified and that have a wide variety of products. These include both interior and exterior residential and commercial furnishings, institutional furniture, raw lumber, millwork, molding, trim, panel products, veneers, cabinets and casework.