The design, construction and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource-efficient building design and materials, and indoor environmental quality, while at the same time taking into account the home's overall impact on the environment.

Homeowners increasingly are seeking energy efficient designs, materials and methods in the construction of their homes with energy costs rising and the finite supply of traditional energy sources rapidly declining. The green building marketplace is expected to be worth between $40 billion and $70 billion per year by 2012. ⁱ

The Energy Policy Act of 2005, enacted four years ago, changed U.S. energy policy by providing tax incentives and loan guarantees for energy production and conservation. ⁱⁱ These incentives include commercial and residential tax credits paid directly to builders that are scheduled to end this December. A nationwide letter-writing campaign has been initiated to extend that deadline. ⁱⁱⁱ

Many of the processes and technologies that go into a green home happen “behind the scenes and behind the walls.” ^iv The National Association of Homebuilders has developed its National Green Building Program™, in an effort to educate builders and homeowners. The program includes an online interactive design and scoring tool. ^v Further, a national “green cost handbook” is being developed to help home builders and appraisers calculate energy savings over a 10-year period. These calculations are necessary to prove the market actually is paying for green building. ^vi

Mark LaLiberte, a leading expert in building science, advocates a simple formula for green building: Workmanship, craftsmanship and attention to detail. America has ample laws, codes and regulations governing home building. But good building practices don’t require laws. Builders must be creative and innovative but also analytical and responsible – environmentally socially and fiscally. They also must continuously develop their expertise regarding building materials, resources and processes. ^vii

Some of LaLiberte’s strategies for green building:

• Buy locally
• Work together locally
• Be attentive to detail at all stages of construction
• Retain oversight responsibility and be accountable at every stage of construction
• Encourage installation of energy efficient appliances, lighting and roofing materials (i.e., photovoltaics built into roof tiles)
• Never do something just because it’s always been done that way. Think of new and better ways. Details matter. ^viii