“Green” may be defined in many ways. Knowledge, understanding, perspective, opinion and experience all influence the way one may define green. Some may mention energy efficiency and conservation, others may talk about the environmental footprint, but most would agree that it is about making better/smarter decisions and doing the right thing for an improved quality of life for the present time as well as future generations.  Being green has not only influenced personal decisions, such as choosing to recycle, but it has impacted the way many businesses choose to operate and market their products and/or services. The building industry is no different.    

“Not that long ago, green building simply meant energy-efficient building.  Over time, though, the term has expanded its scope to include the use of sustainable materials and construction practices; healthy indoor environments; and techniques that account for the embodied energy of materials (including their transport), life cycle costs of the building, and the ultimate recycling of used materials back into the building stream (green streaming).”
Custom Home, November/December 2007

it is not an all-or-nothing philosophy 
While “green building” encompasses a comprehensive approach to the design, construction, and operation of a home, it is not an all-or-nothing philosophy; therefore, builders may choose to incorporate green building methods and practices anywhere in the full life cycle of building – from site selection to decorative touches – in order to minimize the effects of new construction on the environment and produce a higher quality home.  Depending on a builder’s knowledge and experience with green building techniques, one may fall anywhere on the spectrum from choosing to incorporate basic energy efficient appliances to a full-blown zero-impact environmental design. 

Ultimately, the greener home is a more comfortable, more energy efficient, more eco-friendly and healthy home which boasts benefits for both the consumer and environment. According to Custom Home, “green is the gold standard for high-quality, durable, and healthy homes.”