It’s virtually impossible to live a day in the United States without hearing about the most recent green building project, new green building guidelines, the formation of a new green building organization or the need to control the effects of global warming. It’s no surprise, then, that the National Association of Home Builders has taken a leadership role by partnering with the International Code Council to develop a uniform residential green building standard (see sidebar belows).

The NAHB/ICC mission is to help builders and architects construct strong, durable homes that are safe and affordable and that have a smaller impact on the world’s limited resources. Pick up one of the many green-related trade magazines and newsletters and it’s easy to see how much traction the green movement, and also the NAHB/ICC effort, has today. Glance at the magazine rack at the book store and make note of all the consumer magazines publishing their green issues.

Media outlets across the country see an increasing number of news releases related to green, such as the newest LEED for Homes-certified house being completed. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system is a benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings of every type.

As builders and architects are bombarded with so much news about green building, it could become overwhelming and difficult to know which green guidelines to follow, or how to take that first green step. Ray Tonjes, chairman of the NAHB’s Green Building Subcommittee, and custom home builder from Austin, Texas, believes once a builder begins thinking about green building practices, it becomes second nature.

Tonjes says becoming a green builder or architect can begin as simply as specifying Energy Star-certified appliances. “When making choices, we will always gravitate to those green products that intuitively take less energy to manufacture and transport,” he says. “We are all interested in less maintenance and more durable materials. That’s a no-brainer.” To take the first green step, review the illustration on the opposite page, and read below for Tonjes’ list of basic green practices to get you started.