Green Building

For starters, the simple modular plan optimizes daylight and cross ventilation

A resourceful homeowner and his contractor explain how they created a sustainable home on budget in under five months

Get an in-depth look at a near-zero energy house featuring recycled materials and solar-heating and rainwater-harvesting systems

Part of Portland's Build It Green! 2008 Homes Tour + Info Fair, this master bedroom, bath, and loft are designed to conserve energy and water

Video tours and takeaways from Portland's Build It Green! 2008 event

After walking the floors of West Coast Green 2008, we came back with these standouts

Solar panels aside, you can’t see the upgrades that make this downtown remodel so energy efficientby Richard Renner

Passive survivability is a life-safety issue. How long could you live in your house without power or fuel?by Alex Wilson

Reports from three case studies outline what it takes to achieve LEED for Home's silver, gold, and platinum ratingsby Sean Groom

LEED for Homes is a new, comprehensive national certification program for green, energy-efficient homes. Builders who’ve tried it like it, but will it change the way houses are built?by Sean Groom

Federal and state incentive programs make rehabilitating durable old buildings cost-effectiveby John K. Grosvenor

Common-sense solutions for creating homes that are self-reliant, resilient, and versatileby David Johnston, Scott Gibson

Compact and beautiful, mkLotus is a zero-energy house with major appeal by Tim Schmidt

Innovative site work and a thoughtful floor plan preserve views and a stand of mature pine treesby Eric Odor

An architect designs a small in-town house that uses sustainable materials, solar energy, and water conservation to improve quality of life (and afford it)by Christopher Stafford

Rising energy costs, climate change, and a new social conscience are complicating the way we buildby Scott Gibson

From OSB and cordless drills to The Home Depot and HGTV, here's a look at how the past quarter-century has shaped the home-building industryby Matthew Teague

Winner of a national green-building award, this low-maintenance house should produce as much energy as it usesby Nathan Good

An interior designer's earth-friendly ideas go easily from Sarah Susanka's showhouse to your houseby Patricia Gaylor