Environmentally friendly housing, commonly known as “green building,” has taken on new meaning over the last several years. For many people, green building conjures up images of solar panels, recycled materials, and energy efficient appliances. And they would be correct. But green building has evolved even further in recent years causing residential construction to undergo something of a revolution in how homes are built.

Green building is intended to conserve resources that can help reduce a home’s environmental impact and energy consumption through innovative design, construction, and operation features. In addition to the construction, green building can also be incorporated into the land development in order to save developers, builders, and homeowners money by reducing costs.

Although green homes are still a minor segment of the total number of homes built today, rising energy costs and concerns about environmental degradation are causing the green phenomenon to become more mainstream. In fact, according to a recent survey of consumers by a national building trade organization, almost 80 percent of the respondents listed environmentally friendly features a concern when building or purchasing a home.

So what exactly does “green” mean when it comes to housing? There’s no simple answer to this question; the definition to green building is something of a moving target. However, most homes that earn the label of “green” feature energy efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting and appliances. Other advancements in green construction that are incorporated into most new homes today include double-pane windows, blown-in insulation materials, programmable thermostats, occupancy sensors and timers, recycled building materials, and Energy Star appliances ratings. Green features can also encompass land-planning techniques that preserve the natural environment, as well as site development that reduces erosion and protects trees.

Since what constitutes green building is somewhat ambiguous, there really isn’t a universally accepted standard for quantifying energy efficiency in homes. Many states rely on a form of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Model Energy Code as a starting point in defining a green home.

This code contains energy-efficiency criteria for new residential and commercial buildings. It describes how ceilings, walls, floors, foundations, lighting, and power systems must be constructed to meet its energy conservation standards. To find out about Washington State’s application of the Model Energy Code, go to www.energycodes.gov.

In 2001 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began applying its Energy Star label to new and existing homes. To quality, a home must be at least 30 percent more energy efficient than a comparable home built to the 1993 Model Energy Code standards and 15 percent more efficient than the state’s energy code. The rating must be performed by a home energy rater who assesses a home’s energy usage. The website www.natresnet.org has a list of energy raters by state; most utility companies can conduct energy audits as well.

In addition to the obvious environmental benefits of having an Energy Star approved home, the official green-seal-of-approval can also add to the marketing appeal of a home for buyers. And some lenders are getting in on the green movement too by offering energy-efficient mortgages.

With an energy efficient loan, houses that meet prescribed energy standards can qualify for favorable mortgage terms, ranging from higher borrowing limits with little or no down payment to cash-back features. Energy efficient mortgages can be used to purchase a new or existing home or to finance energy-related improvements. For specifics on loan requirements and terms, go to the Web sites of the various mortgage sponsors including Fannie Mae, www.efanniemae.com Freddie Mac, www.freddiemac.com or www.hud.gov/progdesc/energy-r.cfm.

To learn more about green building and ways that you can make your home more environmentally friendly, go to www.energystar.gov. Also, www.kitsaphba.com/bbk.html is the Built Green site of the Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County. The Built Green program, originated in Kitsap County, was the national model for green building programs.

(Editor’s Note, Realtor J. Lennox Scott is the chairman and CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate. You can visit his Web site at www.johnlscott.com.).