Our next home will be a custom built true "Green" home.  For now - we've started with the purchase of a Saturn Vue Hybrid as a "green" vehicle.

Hi Tony, that's great!  I think my next car will be a Hybrid.  If they haven't come out with something better by then.  :)  New stuff seems to come out daily. 

I try to use Green materials on all my fixers.  It is just a good feeling to know your doing what you can to help keep the planet.

I noticed that our carpet sheds some and I think that's what I'm dusting up all over.  What kind of carpet do I look for? My hubbie's got a Saturn Vue...but it's not a hybrid.

Hi Marcus, that's great!  Helps out the utility bills too!

Hey Sally, the best thing to do is get rid of carpet and vinyl flooring.  The vinyl, at least in the past, had asbestos in it and the glues/adhesives are not that good either.  A wood or other tile is good.  Helps the allergies too.  Next home I think I want all tile.  If I had known all of this 2 years ago when I replaced my carpet I would have done laminate wood or something.

Stephanie,

Nice list featuring the categories from your poll.  My husband's grandfather used to collect all the rainwater from his gutters in a large tank he then used to water plants with - he did that years ago to save on his water bill.  I love the ones that are good for the environment and your pocketbook at the same time.

Hi Rita, ultimately together the homes do both.  Even if it's not a GREEN product the home would have a smaller footprint.  I like those too.  :)  The Rainwater systems are starting to get attention here.  Especially since we have been getting so much rain.

Thank you for clearing up a lot of these questions in your post. A green house is the way of the future. I believe it is the responsible choice. Katerina

Great post Stephanie!  You may want to rethink the hybrid car.  I have one and am wouldn't invest in one again...  Cost vs. return isn't that great, especially when the a/c is running which is most of the time in the Woodlands!

Hi Katerina, I agree.  Even if Homes don't go completely green, Raising the bar for builders is always a good thing.  :)

Thanks Chris,  Really?  I was thinking about finding a recent used one where the cost was less. I don't buy brand new anyhow.  I made that mistake once.  :)  I'll keep looking.

Thanks Stacey.

Stephanie--Thanks for sharing your knowledge on the subject...Really helpful for those new to the subject. Here is an interesting note...On rain water collection; I was at an exhibit on Pompeii and homes built nearly 2000 years ago were built with pools to collect rainwater off of the roofs of the homes for the family's water supply...I find it interesting that we are just "learning" to do this today.

Stephanie great overview of green ideas for the home. I have been reading about them for years and when we get a home I plan to use as many as I can. The healthier home is the biggest pull for my family with the impact on the environment coming in a close 2nd. The cost savings doesn't even come into play; I just want my family healthy.

Stephanie - Another winning post about green homes. I am just beginning to learn about it. I like the health and enviromental aspect of green homes. The savings is a bonus!

Hi Teri, Isn't that amazing how even back then they did this.  It is not really something new here but, from my understanding  (I could be wrong), there were issues on how sanitary the water would be.  Now, with the Greywater System it is filtered and sounds pretty good actually.  I found out last week, all in one day, about 2 separate instances where people are going to do this...just around The Woodlands.  I am going to have to find out if any one in Houston is actively doing this and write a post on it.  Thanks for stopping by Teri.

Thanks Ashley, The health aspect of Green Homes is amazing.  I'm glad this was helpful.

Thanks Paula,  Those two items are winning in my poll right now.  Believe it or not.

NICE-NICE-NICE Stephanie!!  You're my "source" for GREEN-ER LIVING!!  Thanks!

Thanks Susie!

Stephanie!! Great blog. I live "green" and am just now making contacts for "green" building so this blog and others you have written are a great resource! I know some people want carpet in their homes which is why I wrote that blog about carpet made from plastic bottles....some older relatives insist because of arthritis that carpet is what they must have. Do you know of any other companies making carpet from recycled materials?

Thanks Pamela,  I really don't know of companies that do that.  I should do some research.  Carpet is BAD stuff.  I had mine replaced 2 years ago and they filled a trash bag (not a huge one) with sand that was under the old carpet.  It was NASTY!  Imagine what was IN the carpet.  Yuck.  I am going to have to find that post of yours.  Thanks for stopping by!

I beleive we all should think of what we do and how it effect our selves and others. How we build our homes should be thought out very carefully. 

Stephanie,

I look forward to your future post on this subject.  As I mentioned in my comment on your previous post I am trying to learn as much as I can about this subject, since I might be getting the opportunity to work on a true green project.  I especially like the health aspect of green building.

Pamela - check out the carpet MOHAWK is making from recycled pop bottles -- interesting. Shaw  is also going green. I don't know much about the products but can get more information from Standale Interiors if you're interested.

Stephanie! Keep up the great work! I'll miss you while I'm gone!

Hi Daniel, I agree.  There are so many factors that come in to play when building that often go unmentioned.  Like Indoor Air Quality.  It's a biggie.

Hi Jennifer, I hope it works out for you..the green project.  I will keep posting away!  :)

Thanks Mary for the links and the compliment.  I need to learn more about the recycled carpets.

You post the question;"What would your main reason be for Building a Green or Sustainable home?"
For me first is because is health friendly... more and more people suffer (knowingly or unknowingly) from all kind allergy, or another, mainly because our environment is poluted and unhealty.

Hi Arina, you are so right.  there are so many pollutants that it is unreal.

This list is very helpful.  I can see posing questions to clients about what is important to them -- and then making suggestions to accomplish those goals.  Having this checklist is very useful -- This kind of approach will work for almost every type of buyer.  Thanks for the clarification.

Thanks Joan, I will eventually write more details about each topic.  For now, just hitting a few points to help people understand. 

It's not because it is a different style of home or one is better than the other, it's simply the passion is behind the motivation. It's all about educating the consumer and some times the professional.

Thanks Dena, you are right.