One of the most important trends in new home design and construction is the concept of “green” construction. In this type of construction, house builders and home owners choose to utilize environmentally-friendly building materials, and energy-efficient construction techniques.

Green building is gaining in popularity across the United States, and this method of construction benefits the environment by reducing the inefficiencies of the typical home construction project, while also benefitting the resulting homeowner with lower utility bills and a smaller enviromental “footprint”.

The widespread availability of green materials and knowledgeable builders has made it relatively easy for homeowners to go green when building their new house plans. When choosing your new home design, decide which green building techniques will work best for you.

Below are several quick and easy ways to implement green building techniques in your new home:

Green Building Materials - Ask your builder about using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified lumber. These wood products are grown and harvested in an ecologically-sound manner, and are readily available at stores such as Lowes and Home Depot.

Request low VOC (volatile organic compound) materials for floors, shelving, and countertops to improve your indoor air quality and reduce pollution.

Conservation – The simplest way to make sure your new home is being built green is to check the Energy Star rating on appliances and windows, and doors. Consider the use of tankless water heaters that only heat water on demand.

Landscaping with native plants and preserving existing mature trees will help conserve water and minimize hot spots on the patio, house, and driveway.

Additional ideas include installing green seal certified windows and doors, utilizing foam insulation which can save up to 50% on energy bills, utilizing solar water heaters, compact fluorescent lighting, computer controlled vents that pull in fresh air.

Finally, you can find a list of green home builders by going to energystar.gov or the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Green site, nahbgreen.org.

One of the most popular house plans websites for locating green-buildable floor plans is at http://www.houseplangallery.com/index_files/index.php.

Best wishes in the building of your new home!