John Hermannsson is an architect, a member of the American Institute of Architects and president of The Architectural Machine, in Redwood City, California. He has practiced architecture in both the United States and Scandinavia and holds Bachelors degrees in both Architecture and Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Master of Architecture from the University of Oregon. He was the first Solar Energy Specialist for the Oregon State Extension Service, and has been in independent practice as an architect and building energy consultant in California for thirteen years.

Sustainable design means solving the needs of the present without detracting from the needs of the future, and creating architecture that minimizes the use of natural resources, toxic materials, and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle of a building. The materials used in a sustainably designed structure are green building materials. The use of green building materials is the only responsible approach to upholding the health, welfare, and safety of people and future generations that shall live and breathe and dwell upon this earth. After dedicating more than a year and hundreds of hours of professional time to the development of a green building database for design professionals, it gives me great pleasure to announce the publication of this Green Building Resource Guide.

Support this effort. Order the Green Building Resource Guide and specify these wonderful resource conserving and non-toxic materials for your next project, and let's work together to save our earth!