Here are a few links to some great websites with
the latest green news, reviews and green living tips:

greenhomeguide.com | treehugger.com | greenlivingtips.com | thegreenguide.com | idealbite.com | pinellaslivinggreen.org

LATEST NEWS:

REAL's Darren Brinkley receives Florida WaterStar award.
Darren Brinkley, REAL's founder, was recognized by SWFWMD for his contribution to water conservation in the Tampa Bay area.
View Award>>

S Tampa project featured on Fox13 news.
REAL building's hybrid Rainwater/Greywater System, installed on their project in S. Tampa, was featured on Fox13 news.
View Online>>
or read more on Twitter and Facebook

Hudson hurricane shelter dedicated to state Sen. Mike Fasano.
REAL building is the LEED Consultant on the Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter in Pasco County. The project is preparing to submit final LEED documentation. REAL building was proud to be a part of the project team--and excited to be at the ribbon cutting with Gov. Charlie Crist, Senator Mike Fasano, a few Pasco County Commissioners, and the citizens of Pasco County.
St Pete Times Article>>
or read more on Twitter and Facebook

Tampa Bay Solar Home Tour.
REAL building project features as part of the 2009 Tampa Bay Solar Home Tour.
Read more>>

REAL project receives Water Star award.
REAL's model home project in St Petersburg, FL, is the first in the area to receive Southwest Florida Water Management District's (SWFWMD) 'Gold' Water Star certification.
Read more on Twitter and Facebook >>

Eco-friendly home grows from fire's ashes in St. Petersburg.
Less than a year after a fire destroyed their St. Petersburg house, state Rep. Rick Kriseman and his wife, Kerry, moved into their rebuilt home on Third Avenue N. As they made plans to rebuild, the Krisemans decided to make the new house as eco-friendly as possible, incorporating special insulation, dual-flush toilets and bamboo floors.
Read more >>

Darren Brinkley featured in Creative Loafing's 'living-sustainably-in-tampa-bay' section.
Darren Brinkley doesn’t pretend to be the most environmentally responsible person in the world or the Tampa Bay area. He just feels that he is trying to do his part to preserve the world around him.
Read more >>

REAL building project featured on Tampa TV.
REAL building's S. Tampa project was featured on the City of Tampa's Spotlight Tampa show, July edition.
Link to Video >>

Darren Brinkley joins the board of the U.S. Green Building Council's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter.
Darren Brinkley, president of REAL Building, has joined the board of the U.S. Green Building Council's Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. "I am looking forward to working with you to continue the outstanding service you have already provided to all in the Tampa Bay area with your passion for sustainability, and the support you have given to the Chapter." Advait Mantri - Past President.

REAL S. Tampa LEED home featured on WMNF news.
Read or listen to the news section online.
...This morning in South Tampa, a local green building consulting firm broke ground on a home pursuing a LEED-PLATINUM level certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Darren Brinkley is the President of REAL building, which has designed several green buildings in the Tampa Bay area in the past 3 years. He said he has big ambitions for the new house...
read more >> Then click on 'Listen' icon to hear news item.

Ground Breaking for S. Tampa LEED home.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (June 11, 2009) - REAL building, a local green building consulting firm, broke ground today on a home in South Tampa pursuing a LEED-PLATINUM level certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The event speakers included City of Tampa’s Green Officer and Deputy Director of Growth Management Thom Snelling, USGBC Florida Gulf Coast Chapter President Josh Bomstein and REAL building President Darren Brinkley.
view press release >>

Ground Breaking for S. Tampa LEED home.
We had a great turn out for our S. Tampa LEED project's official ground breaking including some great speakers in Josh Bomstein (USGBC), Tom Snelling (City of Tampa's Green Officer), John Dingfelder (City Council, Tampa) and one of the homeowners, Anna Parsons. We'd like to thank these guests plus all our other partners on the project including Martin and his associates from the Gramatica Group.
see pictures >>

REAL building recieves green award.
REAL Building, green building consultants in St Petersburg, received the Best Green Consultant award in the Tampa Bay duPont Registry in the Builder/Consultant category.
read online (May/June 2009 issue)>>
view article >>

REAL building featured in The GREEN 100.
REAL Building. Responsible, Efficient, Attainable, Livable makes up the acronym REAL. The St. Petersburg company is a consultancy firm that helps developers and homeowners design, plan, build or remodel a green home. Taylor Ralph, VP of business development, was the first in Florida to have a home certified Gold by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Design) Building Rating System. It’s in the Riviera Bay neighborhood of northeast St. Petersburg.
read more >>

Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter (and Health Clinics) Groundbreaking.
The groundbreaking event for Pasco County's first LEED project was held today on the site of the 37,000 s.f. project. REAL building have been hired to consult on the LEED certification. This will be the first shelter in the country to meet the new ICC-500 Design Standards.
see pictures >>
read more >>

Darren Brinkley Joins Mayor Iorio's Energy Conservation Task Force.
Tampa, FL March 12, 2009 - Today, Mayor Pam Iorio announced the members of a citizen’s task force that will work with the City of Tampa and TECO Energy to develop energy conservation policies for our community.

The Mayor’s Citizen/TECO Energy Conservation Task Force will provide Mayor Iorio with recommendations for energy conservation, renewable energy, and climate change initiatives for implementation by the City, TECO Energy and the general public.
read more >>

REAL building featured on WUSF TV.
Florida Focus on WUSF-TV/Channel 16.
View Video >>

REAL building hired to consult on it's first commercial project.
REAL building will be helping its client pursue LEED certification under the USGBC's LEED NC (New Construction) program.
Details coming soon >>

Project Green - A Tampa Bay Tour of Sustainable Buildings.
Green and Gold.
REAL building's model home features in Jan/Feb 09 green issues.
view article (jpg)>>

Darren Brinkley joins green building experts at a Leadership Tampa Bay event.
Darren Brinkley, president of REAL Building, has been invited to sit on a panel of green building expert for a Leadership Tampa Bay event on Tuesday Jan 27. The group will also be touring REAL's model home on monday Jan 26 to get an insight into what makes a home green. Info >>

Darren Brinkley joins board of Pinellas Living Green.
Darren Brinkley, president of REAL Building, has joined the board of the Pinellas Living Green organization.
Pinellas Living Green >>

REAL project featured on USGBC 'Green Home Guide' website.
REAL Model Home, St. Petersburg, Fla. When St. Petersburg-based green building consultants REAL Building set out to design and build Florida’s first LEED Gold home, their goal was to show that a home of any style could be truly green. The REAL model home in northeast St. Petersburg’s Riviera Bay neighborhood is a 2,100-square-foot “Florida-style” home built to blend in with other homes in the nearby community.
Green Home Guide website >>
Download Profile (pdf)>>

Darren Brinkley part of Mayor Iorio Environmental Discussion Group.
Darren Brinkley, president of REAL Building, was invited by the Mayor of Tampa to join her discussion group to talk improving city services and discuss environmental issues.

REAL project one of 8 in the country featured by USGBC.
REAL building first project has been selected by the USGBC as one of only 8 projects in the country to be featured as an official LEED-for-Homes Project Profile.
Link to USGBC website (Scroll down to Homes section)
Download Profile (pdf)>>

Creating A Green-is-Gold home.
REAL building featured in the green section in the Northeast Journal published in St Petersburg, FL. November/December Issue.
view article (jpg)>>

Developers make something old ‘green’ again with renovations.
“You’d be amazed what you can find that looks like older material, but is actually green,” Brinkley said. That includes window manufacturers, composite siding, and even barrel tile roofing that looks like the classic Mediterranean style but made completely from recycled metal.
read more >>

Kriseman to go green with reconstructed home.
The initial plan was to implement sustainable materials into the reconstructed home, but during the preliminary stages, an associate in the Legislature directed Kriseman to Darren Brinkley, president of REAL Building, a green development and consulting firm based in St. Petersburg. - “I called Darren, and he said, ‘We’ll get you certified,’” said Kriseman. “I hadn’t considered it.”
read more >>
view article (jpg)>>

State Rep. Rick Krisemans new green home.
Rebuilding a home, life after the smoke clears.

"We started thinking this was a great opportunity,'' said Rick, the ranking Democrat on the state House Committee on Energy. "But we had to consider, can we afford to do it? Does it make sense?'' - They got their answer from a team of local experts, including architect Tim Roney, general contractor Deslandes Contracting and Darren Brinkley of REAL Building, the consultant who's helping the project attain certification by the U.S. Green Building Coalition.
read more >>

Young professionals in St. Petersburg to be honored.
Darren Brinkley, founder and President of REAL building, is a finalist in this years 'Young Entrepreneur of The Year' award.

Nominees for the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program have been named. The program will hold a luncheon Oct. 16 at the Hilton in downtown St. Petersburg.
read more >>

REAL building sponsors first GREEN section of The Northeast Journal.
REAL building are proud to sponsor the first 'green' section in the Northeast Journal published in St Petersburg, FL. September/October Issue.
View section>>

Ingredients for a GREN KITCHEN.
Darren Brinkley, president of REAL building, quoted in the September/October issue of the duPont Registry - Luxury Living in Tampa Bay.
View article>>

Darren Brinkley gives presentation to USGBC Gulf Coast Chapter.
Darren Brinkley, president of REAL building, gives a Presentation the The Gulf Coast Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council focusing on green homes, homeowners and the LEED for Homes process.
Details coming soon>>

REAL building appointed to help 'green' Rick Kriseman's house.
REAL building has been appointed by State Representative Rick Kriseman to help 'green' the rebuild of his family home to 'LEED for Homes' standard.
project page >>

Market Intelligence.
Behavior Modifications. Increases in energy prices may be pushing consumers towards energy-efficient alternatives...
read more >>

GREEN FLORIDA - State-of-the-Art.
Bay-area builders bring green concepts to local homebuyers.
page 1 | page 2 | page 3 >>

Pictures of Ground Breaking with Mayor Rick Baker and the McCain Family.
More pictures coming soon.
pic | pic | pic >>

Home to be built to highest LEED standards.
St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker held a press conference Friday to announce the start of construction on what is expected to be the first LEED-Platinum certified home in the city.

Real Building, a consulting firm that specializes in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is building the home at 363 89th Ave. for Drew and Noelle McCain.
Read more>>

GROUND BREAKING FOR LEED PLATINUM HOME.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (May 22, 2008) - REAL building, a green building consulting firm based in Tampa Bay, breaks ground on a home in St. Petersburg pursuing a LEED-PLATINUM level certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. A groundbreaking event is scheduled for Friday, May 23rd at 1:30 p.m. Mayor Baker, Councilmember Jim Kennedy and other City of St. Petersburg officials are scheduled to attend. The home is located at 363 89th Avenue NE in St. Petersburg, FL.
Read more>>

REAL house featured on Daytime Show.
Visit Website>>

Pinellas Living Green Expo.
REAL building was one of over 100 exhibitors at this years Pinellas Living Green Expo. The event was a great success for all and we wish to thank the organizers, for putting on the expo, but especially all of the visitors who really made it an awesome event. THANK YOU ALL!

REAL house featured in duPont REGISTRY.
The REAL building show home is featured in the Tampa Bay duPont Registry.
View online>>

Simple Structure and Selective Materials Create Functional and Attractive Green Home.
GreenByDesign - Setting an Example by Design.
GreenByDesign sets out to look at places, products and services. We bring you stories and examples that are Green By Design.
Read more>>

First LEED Gold-Certified Home in Florida Combines Sustainable Resources with Smart Design.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When Darren Brinkley, owner of REAL building, created the miniature model of the concept home he wanted to build, his focus was not entirely on building a green structure. “I wanted to build smart, not just green,”
Read more>>

Green Gets The Gold.
ST. PETERSBURG - With just one house built, Darren Brinkley stands as the first green giant of Florida home construction.

His is the first "gold"-rated house in the state, so certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Read more>>
Full Color Article (Lots of Great Pictures) View Cover>> | View Spread>>

USGBC commend REAL building.
REAL building's is features in a USGBC, LEED for Homes webinar as a exemplary example of green building and green marketing for its efforts in building and promoting its Model Home Project under the LEED for Homes pilot program.

REAL building's Model Home Project is selected as a featured home on the 'Homes Across America' website.
View>>

Darren Brinkley named a Sunshine Ambassador.
Darren Brinkley, President of REAL building was formally acknowledged by the City of St Petersburg for his leadership in green building. In a award ceremony at City Hall he was named as an official Sunshine Ambassador to the City of St Petersburg.
Watch Video>> (Click on April 10, 2008 meeting, then select item 8)
Read Press Release>>

Quote from Darren Brinkley, President REAL building.
...Building a green home doesn't cost more than building a regular home if it's planned and designed well, Brinkley said. However, using technology such as solar panels is much more expensive, he said...
Read more>>

REAL building secures green contract
REAL building have secured a contract to design and plan a new waterfront 'green' home in St Petersburg, which it plans to certify with the USGBC's LEED-for-Homes program and the FGBC's Green Home Certification. More details will be available soon.
View Plans>>

This home is so green, it's gold
Building with Earth-friendly materials and reusing water earns elite certification.
ST. PETERSBURG - The "green" home that has been under construction since May on a quiet street in northeast St. Petersburg opens its doors to the public today and Sunday.

Visitors will see the only home in Florida that has been certified "gold" by the U.S. Green Building Coalition under its LEED program - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design - and one of only 19 gold-certified homes in the nation. Details on the LEED program.
Read more>>

GREEN HOUSE
Mayor Baker and Council Member Jim Kennedy dedicated a "green house" in the Riviera Bay neighborhood of St. Petersburg. The four bedroom house, built by REAL building, is the first gold LEED-certified home in Florida and only the 19th such home in the U.S. It received this designation based on its environmentally-friendly construction.
Read more>>

AS SEEN ON TV!!!
Mayor Rick Baker visits REAL building's Model Home.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (February 8, 2008).
See Pics>>

ST. PETERSBURG HOME TOUTED AS GREENEST IN THE STATE BY US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (February 5, 2008) - REAL building, a green building consulting firm based in Tampa Bay, announces their model home in St. Petersburg has been LEED-certified GOLD by the U.S. Green Building Council – the only GOLD-rated home in the State of Florida and one of only 19 in the entire United States. The home was part of the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes pilot program.
Download Press Release (pdf)>>

Home gets high green certification
Florida has its first gold-certified green-built home, and it's in St. Petersburg.
A model home constructed by REAL Building has received one of the highest certifications by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It's one of only 19 in the country and was part of the LEED for Homes pilot program.

"St. Petersburg is leading the way in Florida by implementing strategies for a sustainable future," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker in a release. "St. Petersburg was the first city in the state to receive the Green Building Coalition's Green City designation and has been recognized for its energy conservation, recycling, reclaimed water, fuel efficiency, landscaping, open space preservation and environmental program."
Read more>>

Home goes green, owner saves green
What was once a small block house in St. Petersburg has been transformed into a brand-new, modern, eco-friendly home. The goal is to save water, energy, money, and the environment.
View Clip >>

Green convert thinks outside the box
'He built a unique home and wants to help others add efficient, healthy features.'
ST. PETERSBURG - As his environmentally sustainable home nears completion, Darren Brinkley is considering growing business for REAL Building, the consulting company he created to help people go green.
Read more>>

Homebuilders focus on efficiency
REAL building featured in the Tampa Bay Business Journals Green Build supplement.
Read more>>

REAL Press
REAL building featured in the St. Petersburg Times "Around the House" section!
Read more>>

'Green' house construction
Don't forget that you can keep track of the first "green" house in St. Petersburg at www.realbuilding.com. This is the home Darren Brinkley is building with structural insulated panels, solar heating and recycled materials. Read our May 26 story about it when construction was just getting under way at www.home.tampabay.com.
Read more>>

Color of construction is green
He recycles the past to make his home environmentally sound for future.
"We're changing the color of construction," says Darren Brinkley, 36. He's building what he believes will be the first home in St. Petersburg to be certified "green" by the Florida Green Building Coalition.
Read more - Online article >> (No Pictures),
or view newspaper clipping: Cover | Main article

Blazing green trail in USA
REAL building featured in the East Anglian Daily Times, a UK based newspaper.
Read more>>

Darren Brinkley of REAL Building quoted in the St Pete Times, Neighborhood Times, in an article titled Businesses, clients lean green.
Read more>>

REAL building and founder Darren Brinkley is front page news in the Tampa Bay Business Journal. View: FRONT PAGE | FULL ARTICLE
Read more>>

"The job of creating a quality environment for the future is bigger than government. It is going to have to be a partnership between public and private enterprise and individual citizens, who must all accept responsibility and a future conscience. I'd like to congratulate REAL for its dedication to this mission, and personally thank Darren Brinkley for his vision in bringing this project to its fruition."

Click below to read full press release:
Read more (Download Word doc.)>>

FIRST ‘GREEN’ HOUSE IN ST PETERSBURG
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (April 12, 2007) - REAL (RESPONSIBLE, EFFICIENT, ATTAINABLE and LIVABLE) building, a green building and consulting company based in St. Petersburg, FL, recently received building permits from the City of St. Petersburg to begin work on the first green-certified home in St. Petersburg.
Read more (Download Word doc.)>>