• While improving your home will involve some up-front costs, energy efficiency improvements can save homeowners 10-20% of on-going utility costs. New homes that are designed and built with energy efficient and resource efficient guidelines can save 30-60% of energy compared to conventional homes. When Green design principles are included in the planning phases of construction or renovation, homeowners can expect decreased utility and repair costs over the life of their home.

• Occupants of Green homes can expect to see:
  • Improved homeowner and family health because of healthier indoor environments through use of low VOC materials and adequate ventilation;
  • Increased personal and familial comfort levels due to tighter house construction;
  • Reduced pollution of the their immediate environment due to environmentally sound building and landscaping practices; and
  • Decreased landfill waste because of household recycling practices.
• Your community will be more sustainable because you have:
  • helped maintain air and water quality through resource sensitive design and construction;
  • used local or regional building products and services,
  • decreased landfill waste because of construction waste management that recycles or reuses materials; and
  • contributed to the national economic and energy security by using less fossil-fuel based energy.

Next page: Elements of Green Design