Although many homes are called green, few actually are There is more to making a home green than simply plugging in a light timer or using lower wattage bulbs. There are standards from the government and builders that describe what a green home requires. They have provided 5 attributes of home that need to be examined when determining how green a home really is.

Energy Consumption - Is the home’s energy usage reduced through the use of insulation and energy efficient devices such as furnaces, appliances and fixtures?

Water – does the home make use of water saving techniques? Does it use efficient appliances and fixtures? Does it make use of rain water?

Building materials – has the home been constructed using materials that are not toxic to the environment during the manufacturing process nor while they are in the home?

Lot and setting – Is the home in an area that is sustainable? Will the systems (including the ecosystems) survive?

Inside air quality? Is the home built with materials such as paints that will not contaminate the indoor air?

Each of these areas can determine what impact a home can have on its surroundings and on its inhabitants. It is therefore important to examine each one as we determine how green a home is.