Why do you use the Internet? Looking for green products? Research? Networking?

I’m online every day. And according to research, most of you are, too. An “Internet Usage Study” conducted by Clear Seas Research in partnership with ED+C, July 2008, reports that “in a typical week, two-thirds of survey participants use the Internet for six hours or more, while a reported average of 75 percent of employees use the Internet for business-related purposes.” The respondents say they visit manufacturers’ websites, sifting through product details and spec sheets.

Google “green building” and you’ll get more than 5 million hits! How can you sort through all of this? Try visiting some websites that are specific to green building, like www.EDCmag.com. I encourage you to visit our website for the most up-to-date relevant information on sustainable building.

On our fully-searchable website (powered by Google), you can find:

• Web Exclusive Content (projects, products and news): These articles are only available online. Check out our monthly Web Table of Contents in print (see page 6).
• Contests: Excellence in Design Awards application (available next month) and the current Readers’ Choice Awards (vote for your favorite products at vote.edcmag.com).
• EnviroBlog: ED+C staff shares their thoughts.
• Green Book: A sustainable product and resource (associations and service providers) guide offers a listing of suppliers cross-referenced by product name and CSI code. This year, enhancements include the ability to send an RFP right from your desktop.
• Links: Find other green resources, recommended websites and links to our partners including www.usgbc.org, www.thegbi.org and the www.sbicouncil.org.
• White papers and case studies: Technical information at your fingertips.
• Educasts: Information and registration on our hour-long educational Webinars, most of which qualify you to earn AIA credits.
• Digital Edition: Now you can choose to subscribe to the digital-only edition and receive your issue via your computer.
• Current Issue and archives of previous issues.
• Breaking News: Consider signing up for our RSS feeds.
• Polls: Take part in monthly polls that ask the tough questions.
• Online Calendar of Events: Green events around the country, sorted by date.
• Sustainable Home: More residential green building news and products.
• eNewsletters: Sign up to receive this quality e-mailed information.
• ED+C’s contact information, our editorial calendar and guidelines: Learn how you might get your story in the pages of ED+C. 
• CareerBuilder: Looking for a green job? Try our CareerBuilder.com search engine.
• And more, including video, in the coming year.

It looks like a lot, but it’s easy to navigate. If you haven’t already, check it out for yourself at www.EDCmag.com. And, check back often because we update our website daily! Our sister publication Sustainable Facility offers all this, too, at www.SustainableFacility.com.

Almost every home, every business and every school in America has access to a computer. The Internet is a powerful tool for research and for marketing your company (whether it’s your business/services or your product).

The Internet can be used to monitor green building performance. Web-based tools can help with the design and specification. 

The Internet is also a “green” product in itself, saving time, money and resources (i.e., paper from printed materials, travel, product samples, etc.). We must be cautious consumers, but be open to the possibilities that the Internet has to offer to the green building movement. 

Michelle


P.S. You might be surprised when your November issue arrives next month in the mail or online. ED+C will be unveiling a new look! Be sure to let us know what you think. E-mail me at hucalm@bnpmedia.