As sustainable design concepts increasingly infiltrate the lucrative residential design and construction market, homeowners looking for reliable information on local architects and contractors with knowledge of the field can encounter a frustrating process. That situation is the impetus behind the new Web site, www.greenbuildingblocks.com, which had a soft launch at GreenBuild 2006, held in Denver in November.

Now in beta form, the website hosts a growing number of professionals on pages that provide firm information and project portfolios. The site also functions as a network for local designers and contractors to connect. Need a sustainably minded mechanical contractor in Stillwell, Kansas? Not a problem. The interface is straightforward. Consumers can access resources as diverse as energy auditors, real estate agents, and modular home manufacturers. While it doesn’t yet cover the nation, it launched with 2,000 listings.