How to Go Green When Building HousesNo time is better to think about a green home than at the beginning of the construction process. Many decisions can be made with the environment in mind. Saving resources and energy is easier now thatgreen materials and products are readily available to the typical homeowner. Although completely green construction projects are not yet mainstream, many homeowners are already taking steps to use energy-efficient options in the construction process. ven implementing a couple of ideas can make an important impact.Home SizeThink about the size of home you need. Consider each unit of square footage to determine if it's necessary. If you have a largefamily, of course, several bedrooms are necessary, but if there are only a few people in the home, eliminate etra bedrooms and rooms that you don't need. !ach room built uses precious resources, has to be lighted, heated and cooled and needs furnishings. If you can use one room as an o"ce and an occasional guest room, you'll eliminate an etra room that may not be used ecept for a few times a year. #aybe you don't need a denand a living room but can cater the size to do double duty.Energy Conservation$se multiple strategies to ensure your new home is energy%e"cient. Install solar panels on your roof and a solar%powered water heaterto gain independence from the energy grid. If you choose an electric or gas water heater, insulate it with a blanket to save energy. &dd insulation to all walls and the attic space. #ake sure the house is well%sealed to prevent costly heat and air from escaping through cracks and gaps in the walls and windows. Install an energy%e"cient cooling and heating system with a programmable thermostat.Sunlight$se the sunlight to your advantage. If you livein a cool climate, situate your home so that the sun will help heat rooms you'll use frequently. 'ikewise, in a warm climate, don't have the setting sun pouring into a room that will heat up in the afternoon, necessitating the use of an air conditioning unit. (ituate thebuilding near shade trees to help with climate control. $se double%paned windows to assist in saving energy and controlling the air temperature.Materials$se recyclable, recycled or sustainable materials for the construction. )amboo comesfrom an easily renewed resource and is an ecellent *ooring product. $se wood from certi+ed sustainable forests. 'inoleum, concrete and insulation made from plant +bers are all responsible choices. Check salvage yards for recycled items such as chandeliers, light +tures, doors and hardware. These items have an etra bene+t of adding charm to your new home.Indoor Air QualityImplement ideas that create healthy air quality inside the home. Choose paints with low or no volatile organic compounds, which can cause health problems. !liminate plastics in favor or natural products when you can. (ynthetic carpets o,%gas toins that are unhealthy for the respiratory system. Choose natural%+ber carpets, such as wool, or stick with tile and wood *oors. Install kitchen cabinetry made without formaldehyde, another toic substance.LoationIf possible, choose a site for your home that eliminates the need for continuous car trips. &nearby community area, convenient bus stops, shopping and schools help eliminate driving the car. Instead of cutting down trees, build the new home around trees that are already on your property, move the trees to a new site or replant a tree for every one that iscut down. & lot on a *at, natural clearing already designated for residential housing won't destroy natural vegetation or create theneed for new roads or electricity.Water E!!iienyChoose low%*ow toilets and aerated shower heads for your new home to save water. Install an energy%e"cient washing machine and dishwasher. 'ook for the !nergy (tar sticker when you buy to see the savings. 'andscape with drought%tolerant plants and irrigate responsibility. Consult a landscape architect to determine how many sprinklers you need and how often they need to be turned on."he Costs o! Green #s$ Conventional Building!ocal and national governments continue to push forhigher standards in residential and commercial building challenging consumers to think about conserving energy rather than waste it. "omes built before #$%& cost almost twice as much to maintain as homes built after '&&(. )f you*re thinking about building or renovating a house with green construction materials, you*ll be happy to know green homes not only reduce energy costs but increase $ percent more in value over their conventional counterparts in +alifornia.Costs-reen building materials and energy e"cient equipment may cost more and add a green premium to building costs, but such items payfor themselves through energy savings, increased home comfort and reduced maintenance costs. !nergy (tar appliances, energy e"cient windows and insulation, boilers designed to reduce energy consumption and renewable energy systems do increase one%time building costs but e,ectively reduce your cost of ownership for years to come.%inaning-reen building has its advantages when it comes to mortgage +nancing. If you qualify for a mortgage, you're quali+ed for +nancing through the government's !nergy !"cient #ortgage program, according to the $.(. .epartment of /ousing and $rban .evelopment. $ltimately, the !!# program increases your buying power and allows you to +nance more energy%e"cient upgrades since you'll have more discretionary income from increased utility savings. The !!# loan also doesn't require an additional down payment."a& CreditsIn addition to favorable +nancing, there are a number of ta credits you may claim as a result of building green. The government o,ers a 01 percent ta credit on the cost of a solar hot water heater or photovoltaic system and a 21 percent ta credit on energy e"cientwindows, insulation, boilers and /3&C systems. !nergy (tar windows and appliancesalso qualify. If you plan on doing any additional upgrades after building your home, both (an 4rancisco and 5akland o,er assistance via low interest loans and rebates.'esaleIncreasingly, buyers are attracted to homes that o,er lowered utility and maintenance costs. (o, one of the most encouraging aspects of building green is the increased marketability of your home should you sell it down the road. California homes with solar panel systems, for eample, gained 627,111 in value at resale in a 8122 'awrence )erkeley 9ational 'aboratory study.