Sebastopol Village Network

The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute is finding answers to critical questions about the environmental impact of buildings and building products. The not-for-profit Institute is a world-leading source of data, expertise and tools for designing buildings with the environment in mind.

The Athena Institute is dedicated to sustainability of the built environment, a goal that can only be achieved by meeting the building community`s need for better information and tools. From its Canadian offices, and through its US affiliate, Athena Institute International, the not-for-profit Athena organization undertakes and directs various research and development activities that make it possible to factor environmental considerations into the design process from the conceptual stage onward.

Over the past decade, the Institute has developed a worldwide reputation in the field of sustainable building and life cycle assessment (LCA). The Institute shares its knowledge and expertise through ground breaking software, world-class LCA databases, and customized consulting services.

The Institute has developed the only two tools in North America that evaluate whole buildings and assemblies based on internationally recognized Life Cyle Assessment Methodology: the acclaimed Impact Estimator for Buildings software, and the free spreadsheet tool, the EcoCalculator for Assemblies.

The Institute offers a range of consulting services tailored to meet a client's needs in a cost-effective manner:

- Environmental assessments of specific buildings.
- The principles and practice of LCA at the product or process level.
- Training in sustainability and the use of the ATHENA® software
- General advice and guidance in support of client sustainability efforts.