**Publisher:** EBSCO Information Services
**Subjects Covered:** Environmental science, sustainability, climate change, pollution, agriculture, renewable energy, public policy, and social impact

Overview

GreenFILE is a multidisciplinary research database focusing on the human impact on the environment. It indexes scholarly, government, and general interest publications covering climate change, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, green building, pollution, and recycling. Produced by EBSCO, it brings together environmental perspectives from science, policy, economics, and social studies—making it an excellent starting point for research on sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Scope and Content

• Records: Over 900,000 abstracts and citations.
• Full Text: Approximately 13,000 full‑text titles.
• Content Types: Scholarly journals, government reports, general interest magazines, and reference books.
• Key Journals Include: Environmental Research Letters, Journal of Environmental Planning & Management, Nature Sustainability, and Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment.
• Coverage Period: 1970s–present.
• Update Frequency: Ongoing.
• Languages: Primarily English.

Strengths

• Comprehensive coverage including academic and popular materials for all levels of research.
• Interdisciplinary scope connecting science, engineering, policy, and social perspectives.
• User‑friendly EBSCO interface with advanced and keyword search options.
• Many full‑text articles available directly in PDF or HTML.
• Supports sustainability initiatives and environmental literacy instruction.
• Includes up‑to‑date government and NGO reports reflecting current environmental debates.

Limitations

• Not as in‑depth as specialized databases like Environment Complete or Web of Science.
• Primarily focused on North American and English‑language sources.
• Some records include only abstracts or citations without full text.
• No access to raw datasets or experimental data.
• Includes both scholarly and non‑scholarly sources; users should evaluate for academic suitability.

Best For

• Undergraduate students researching sustainability, energy, and environmental issues.
• Faculty incorporating environmental or sustainability topics into STEM courses.
• Researchers studying environmental impact, green technologies, or policy.
• General readers seeking reliable information on environmental and social issues.

Complementary Databases

Overall Evaluation

GreenFILE is a reliable, multidisciplinary environmental database that balances scientific and general literature on sustainability and environmental impact. It offers accessible, current resources for students and faculty, promoting awareness of environmental issues while supporting academic research. For South Dakota Mines, GreenFILE strengthens environmental and atmospheric science programs, sustainability courses, and interdisciplinary projects. It should appear on the A‑to‑Z list and related LibGuides as a general environmental resource, with recommendations to pair it with Environment Complete or Web of Science for deeper scientific coverage.

Ask Digby – Library Help

Need help evaluating sources or accessing databases? Ask Digby, the Devereaux Library’s friendly prairie dog mascot! Digby can assist with off‑campus access, citation tools, and choosing the right databases for your research.

📧 Email: library@sdsmt.edu

🌐 Chat: Ask Digby
🔗 Library Catalog (Primo): https://sdsmt.primo.exlibrisgroup.com

📍 Devereaux Library, South Dakota Mines, Rapid City, SD