Green Building Tools for Tribes

Gila River Indian Community Green Building

Case Study Available.
Case Study (pdf)
Kayenta Township, Navajo Nation

First Tribal Community in the U.S. to Adopt International Green Building Code
Mesa Verde National Park

Pueblo Cliff Dwellings Lived In for Over 700 Years, from A.D. 600 to 1300.
Pinoleville Pomo Nation

HUD-Funded Green Housing Using Straw Bale and Local Cob Plaster

Green building, also known as sustainable design, can assist Tribal communities to reduce the impact of construction on the environment while protecting the health, livelihood and culture of Tribal residents. Native Americans were the first green architects and builders of the Americas, and traditional Native American building designs and practices are sustainable. State and local building codes do not apply on Tribal lands, but Tribes have the authority to adopt their own.

About Tribal Green Building

Learn how green building techniques can help maintain the natural resources that have historically sustained them and make buildings healthier and more affordable.

About
Code Guidance

Discover examples of Tribal green building ordinance and code language as well as code references.

Code Guidance
Funding Opportunities

Learn about Tribal, Federal, and state grants and loans that can be used to support Tribal green building.

Funding
The Toolkit

The Tribal Green Building Toolkit is an assessment tool for identifying and prioritizing structures your community wants to build.

Get the Toolkit!