Green Homes

A green home is one that aims to minimize environmental and health impacts. More specifically, building a green home means using a holistic design and construction process that [Page 219]takes into consideration the size of the home, appropriate site selection and orientation, energy- and water-efficient design, and the effect of materials used, as well as minimizing waste and optimizing the environmental health of the home, such as indoor air quality. Some proponents of green homes argue that a better term for a green home is a “healthy home”—healthy for the planet and healthy for the household.

Homes also give us a sense of place and are a reflection of who we are—as an individual, a neighborhood, and a society. The architectural literature on green buildings discusses ...