Location—Where you build is the first step in going green. Taking advantage of how your home orients to the sun and the shade helps determine how much energy you will save on cooling and heating costs. Choosing a homesite that doesn’t encroach on environmentally sensitive land is obvious, but you can go even further by building in a higher-density area within easy walking distance of work, schools, and shopping.

Size—Economy of size matters. That 5,000-sq. ft. McMansion is going to drain the energy grid at a much faster rate than a home half the size, even if you build it to the highest green specifications. In addition to requiring more energy use, larger than necessary homes also use more natural resources to build and they create more stormwater runoff. Think big when it comes to sustainable living, but think small when it comes to the size of your home.

Design—What your home is made of and how it is oriented on the building site are more important to its greenness that its architectural theme. The more renewable materials (bamboo and recycled-content tiles, for instance) used, the better. Position your home to get the most out of natural sunlight and prevailing winds and incorporate as many dual-glaze windows as possible to let in the sun and rein in heat gain and heat loss. Trees do a great job of shading a home and can be supplemented with canopies and other shading devices. Finally, choose a ENERGY STAR roof that will reflect more of the sun’s rays and decrease the amount of heat that reaches your home’s interior.

Building Materials—You’ll go a long way towards reaching your goal of building green by focusing on building materials that are locally sourced, rapidly renewable, high in recycled content, or are salvageable. There are a lot of choices here, but your architect and builder can guide you. Whether you choose bamboo (easily and quickly grown) or a locally harvested wood (less energy consumed to get it to the site) for your floors, use recycled-content materials or materials that can be recycled for your countertops, keep in mind that you are trying to reduce the overall impact your building materials have on the environment.

Energy Efficiency—The homes we live in and the buildings we work in not only use huge amounts of energy to keep them well-lit and temperature controlled, but are the first line of defense against the effects of global warming. The first place to start in making your new home energy efficient is to install insulation with a high R value (the higher the value, the better its ability to hold in your home’s temperature). Next, install tight sealing ENERGY STAR windows and doors to keep your home from leaking air where insulation can’t protect. Appliances, lighting fixtures and light bulbs all come ENERGY STAR rated as well and their use can greatly reduce your energy consumption. Renewable energy systems, such as solar panels and wind turbines, may be viable options, depending on your location.

Water Efficiency—Water conservation and efficiency come down to the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. The easiest place to start is with your kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances. The key here is “low-flow” and we’re not just talking toilets (where you can up the ante by going “dual-flush”) anymore. Install low-flow showerheads and faucets and you may cut your annual water consumption in half. Look to ENERGY STAR washing machines and dishwashers for both water and energy efficiency. Finally, you can take it to the next level by considering water-conserving irrigation systems, rainwater collection and storage, hot water recirculation systems, and whole-house graywater systems.

Healthy Indoor Environment—Let the sunshine in! Your green home’s design and orientation on the homesite should allow for plenty of natural daylight and natural ventilation. You’ll rely less on artificial light and breathe easier. Windows that open wide and fans will help fill your house with fresh air. Be sure your HVAC system is efficiently sized for your square footage and that it not only heats and cools, but filters incoming air and takes out stale air. And it is important to ensure your paints and finishes aren’t releasing toxins inside your home. Low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints and finishes are now widely available from most manufacturers.