Each month RECORD reviews building product related web sites and blogs that might be of interest to our readership. We visit each site, kick the tires a bit, and share what it is about and how it functions. Please let us know if there is a site you've found particularly useful, well-designed, or easy to navigate. — Rita Catinella Orrell
 

http://greenbydesign.com
Owned by Noribachi, a “venture accelerator” focused on the clean technology industry, this blog provides information and independent ratings for green products. Although it is focused on the home and garden and intended for a consumer audience, green professionals should also enjoy reading about the latest trends, products, and musings from the blog’s writers. Archives go back to October 2007.
 

www.udesignnow.com
This new Web site — which has a slightly demanding moniker — was designed and created by Tricycle to give J&J/Invision customers the ability to browse patterns, use standard colorways, or create custom colors on selected styles. The tool allows the user to immediately see on their screen what the product is going to look like — either as swatch or dropped into a room scene.
 

www.themohawkgroup.com
The Mohawk Group has unveiled the LEED PLUS Calculator, a free Web-based tool that allows users to search building products and quickly calculate the USGBC’s LEED points, along with other industry environmental ratings such as CHPS (Collaborative for High Performance Schools) and GGHC (Green Guide for Health Care). Results are delivered in minutes via a PDF report.
     

www.trane.com/K12Systems
Trane’s High Performance Systems Portfolio is a Web-based tool that identifies the right heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system type from the company to earn LEED points for schools. A specifier or school engineer simply inputs the school building’s locations and requirements and in return receives the most efficient design for a Trane system, which includes product family and model numbers.