Built Environment — Environmental Resource Guide

The Environmental Resource Guide is a searchable, web-based resource that includes information about all organizations in the Greater Houston Area conducting environmental work. This guide is a one-stop-shop for any resources or connections you may need, and is updated often to ensure you have access to the newest information.

Scroll through the guide, view a list of all organizations, or view all categories of organizations below. At the very bottom of the page is an archive containing older versions of the printed guide available for download.

If you have any questions, would like to make edits to a current listing, or would like to add or remove an organizations, please reach out to us.

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A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P R S T U V W
Photo of Citizens’ Transportation Coalition Citizens’ Transportation Coalition
(832) 768-5258

Purpose: Founded in 2004, the CTC is an all-volunteer grassroots transportation advocacy organization. The Citizens’ Transportation Coalition advocates for a broad-based public educational and planning process to identify neighborhood aspirations, influences projects to achieve the best transportation options, and engages our communities in designing a complete multimodal transportation system that serves us all.

Dexter Handy, Chair
drhandy@aol.com

Carol Caul, Advocacy Chair
Ed Browne, Science and Technology Chair

Photo of City of Houston Green Building Resource Center City of Houston Green Building Resource Center
(832) 394-9050

Purpose: To enable the public to experience and learn more about healthy and energy, water, and material conserving design and construction; also known as Green Building.

Steven M. Stelzer, AIA, LEED AP, Program Director
steve.stelzer@houstontx.gov

Photo of Wildlife Habitat Federation (WHF) Wildlife Habitat Federation (WHF)
979-877-4961

Wildlife Habitat Federation(WHF) works to create resilient prairie ecosystems in the mid upper coast of Texas. Our focal area includes the Greater Houston Area to Austin to San Antonio, but we have a footprint in 47 Texas counties. WHF is a 501 (c) 3 organization, and our mission is to provide on-the-ground restoration, management and generational sustainability of prairie habitat for the conservation of soil, water, air and wildlife.…

Photo of Blueprint Houston Blueprint Houston
(713) 522-0590

Purpose: To promote the evolution and implementation of Plan Houston as the basis for planning the City’s future. Blueprint Houston serves as a resource and catalyst for better long-term planning for Houston’s future growth and development.

Blueprint Houston was founded in 2003 to build community support for a coordinated planning process to make improvements to Houston’s quality of life.…

Photo of Discovery Green Conservancy Discovery Green Conservancy

Barry Mandel, President and Park Director

Maria Aguirre, Executive Assistant

Purpose: To provide an uncommonly beautiful, urban green space in the heart of Houston that serves as a village green for our city, a source of health and happiness for our citizens, and a window into the incredible diversity of talents and traditions that enrich life in Houston.…

Photo of Texas Campaign for the Environment Texas Campaign for the Environment
(713) 337-4192

Purpose: Empowering Texans to fight pollution through sustained grassroots organizing campaigns that shift corporate and governmental policy. The TEC envisions a Texas free from pollution. As the largest environmental group in Texas organizing support through door-to-door canvassing, grassroots is both who we are and what we do. Programs: Advocates for local, state and national policies that hold manufacturers responsible for recycling the toxic products they create (such as electronic waste or “e-waste”); works to strengthen environmental and health standards for Texas landfills; educates residents and builds grassroots support through a year-round neighborhood canvassing program; and works toward recycling for all Houstonians.…

Photo of Buffalo Bayou Partnership Buffalo Bayou Partnership
(713) 752-0314

Purpose:Buffalo Bayou Partnership is the Houston non-profit organization revitalizing and transforming Buffalo Bayou, our city’s most significant natural resource. Coordinating the integration of major improvements into the Bayou greenway, the Partnership seeks increased community involvement through pedestrian, boating and biking amenities, art installations, and other natural and built attractions. Major Events: Buffalo Bayou Regatta, kayak tours, history hikes, walk tours, bat tours, Second Saturday Boat cruises, Twilight tours, Seasonal Cruises, Nights on Blue Bayou events along the Sabine Promenade.…

Photo of Hermann Park Conservancy Hermann Park Conservancy
(713) 524-5876

Purpose:Founded in 1992, Hermann Park Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park, one of Houston’s largest and most loved urban parks, where more than six million visitors make memories each year. Beyond raising funds to improve and maintain the Park, the Conservancy oversees strategic planning for Hermann Park’s future as well as programs focused on visitor services, conservation and stewardship, tree care, and operations and maintenance of the McGovern Centennial Gardens.

Photo of Texas Community Watershed Partners Texas Community Watershed Partners
(281) 218-0570

Purpose: To provide education and outreach to local governments and citizens on the impacts of land use on watershed health and water quality.

Major Events: Workshops, Seminars, Conferences, Courses, and Classes.

Volunteer Opportunities: Restoration Projects, Conservation Projects, Landscape Installation Projects, and Wetland Workdays.

Publications:   

  • Can Houston Feed Itself?
Photo of Rice Design Alliance Rice Design Alliance
(713) 348-5924

Purpose: Dedicated to the advancement of architecture, urban design, and the built environment in the Houston region through educational programs, the publication of Cite, and active programs to initiate physical improvements. By sponsoring lectures, seminars, symposia, exhibits, and tours, RDA seeks to involve the public.

Volunteer Opportunities: Docents needed for house tour, gala, and other events.…

Photo of Houston Community ToolBank Houston Community ToolBank
(713) 674-0262

Purpose: The Houston Community ToolBank is a nonprofit tool lending program that stewards an inventory of tools for lending to charitable organizations to increase the impact of their mission-related efforts in the community. With year-round access to an inventory of tools for use in volunteer projects and facility and grounds maintenance, the ToolBank provide resources to enhance the charitable sector’s capacity to serve, facilitating hands-on volunteerism in the greater Houston area.…

Photo of Center for Houston’s Future Center for Houston’s Future
(713) 844-9325

Purpose: Center for Houston’s Future (CHF) works to address matters of highest importance to the long-term future of the greater Houston region, by engaging diverse leaders, providing impactful research, and defining actionable strategies. The Center for Houston’s Future furthers the Houston region as a top global community in which to work and live.…

Photo of U.S. Green Building Council – Texas Gulf Coast Region U.S. Green Building Council – Texas Gulf Coast Region
(281) 506-3867

Purpose: The chapter will accelerate the implementation of the best sustainable building practices for our region through collaboration, education and advocacy. Founded in 2003, the USGBC-Texas Gulf Coast Chapter is uniquely positioned to leverage green building industry knowledge with community needs related to the built environment. The chapter connects the built environment to community life indicators and offers the LEED Rating System as a measurement tool to vet whether or not a building is operating at high performance.…

Photo of Houston Parks Board Houston Parks Board
(713) 942-8500

Purpose: The Houston Parks Board creates, improves, protects and advocates for parks for everyone.  HPB is driven by the vision of thriving parks and communities for everyone forever.

Programs: Parkland and greenspace acquisition; park capital improvement projects; collaboration with other green groups; Neighborhood Partnership Program; 50/50 Park Partners Challenge; Volunteer Program.…

Photo of Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum
(832) 456-1000

Purpose: To enhance, enable, and integrate sustainable use of land and water for the Houston area’s continued growth and economic vitality.

Maintaining the pace of growth and development in the greater Houston area requires that those with a vested interest adopt new ideas and employ new methods that will insure that growth can be sustained.…

Photo of American Institute of Architects, Houston American Institute of Architects, Houston
(713) 520-0155

Purpose: To promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the architecture profession; to advance the science and art of planning and building; to coordinate the building industry and the profession of architecture; to ensure the advancement of the living standard of people and to make the profession one of ever-increasing service to society.…

Photo of BikeHouston, Inc. BikeHouston, Inc.

Purpose: The mission of BikeHouston is to promote safe bicycling and to improve the quality of life in the Houston area.  Goals -secure equitable access to regional facilities, lands and roads -educate the public about rights and responsibilities of bicyclists -promote public awareness of the personal and community benefits of cycling Meeting Time: Varies, see website.

Photo of Living Paradigm Community Dev. Corp Living Paradigm Community Dev. Corp
(832) 303-9208

Purpose: The mission of Living Paradigm is to empower people by creating home ownership of shelters erected from reclaimed materials. These dwellings will be environmentally responsible and healthy places for those that inhabit them and will contribute to the culture, vitality, and individuality of the community.

Living Paradigm addresses the social, economic and environmental basis of sustainable living by building low-cost homes (under $50k), with volunteer or apprenticeship labor, using materials that would otherwise go to the landfill.…

Photo of Environment Texas Research & Policy Center Environment Texas Research & Policy Center
(512) 479-0388

Purpose: Protection of Texas’ air, water and open spaces. Improving the quality of our environment and our lives by using independent research and tough-minded advocacy to win concrete results for our environment.

Program Priorities: Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Green Building, Open Space Preservation, Clean Air and Water, Global Warming.…

Photo of Houston Tomorrow Houston Tomorrow
(713) 523-5757

Purpose: Houston Tomorrow is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all the people of the Houston region through research, education, and discussion. Its vision is that on its 200th birthday, the Houston region will be home to the healthiest, happiest, most prosperous people in the United States.…

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