Editor's Bookmarks - March 2007

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

www.pavegreen.com
Four simple pages outline asphalt’s contribution to energy and recycling, performance, water quality, clean air, and cool cities with information as impressive as the EPA’s announcement that the asphalt industry is America’s largest recycler. Although devoted solely to the green aspects of the material, a discreet link to the Asphalt Pavement Alliance puts further information within reach.

www.moderntots.com
ModernTots has made a strong impression as one of the modern design industry’s underrepresented niche markets—children. Boasting bold images of their designs with large color and texture samples, the site can be explored by design and/or age categories. The effort required to keep your eyes on the site’s infant-sized font, however, is a stress most visitors could do without.

www.leviton.com
Beginning this year, Leviton’s electrical and electronic product and service information is now consolidated at a single URL, having previously been divided among four Web sites. The new site is neatly organized and provides a trade-show schedule, news, and a 24/7 electronic “Ez-learn” classroom for electrical training. The only thing users will wonder about now is why it wasn’t always like this.

www.boschappliances.com
The new Green Resource Center microsite, accessible via link from the Bosch homepage, is a valuable tool for consumers and trade visitors alike. An energy-savings calculator by energy and water cost specifications, a rebate finder by zip code, and outlines of the certification points Bosch appliances earn on applications for nine green building rating systems make these clean, fresh-looking pages worth a visit.