Are you ready to build a new home? Find your shade of green early in the process to ensure the home fits your lifestyle, budget and expectations.

A home doesn’t have to be the darkest shade of green or nothing; there are lots of options that can make a home more energy efficient, healthier inside and eco-friendly.

Building a greener, more environmentally friendly home is more than just picking out products when the home is about complete. It’s about looking at the location of your house on your lot or acreage, planning for the most efficient use of energy and water, providing better indoor air quality and better construction. Use as many local resources as possible, we have a lot of great experts in the central Iowa area who have been working in this area for years.

While still in the early planning stages go through these four steps to be sure you are really getting what you want to fit your needs. 

1. Think about what green or environmental issues you have an interest in or are most passionate about and why. You may have to limit where you can focus your efforts, maybe more on energy efficiency and less on interior finish for example. Making a list of interests will help you stay focused when going through the initial planning stages of building your new home…and it will save you time and money later on.
   
   
2. Talk to your builder or architect to target some practical, affordable and reasonable green building strategies that address your list above. Be sure you are comfortable with whatever practices, processes or products are being used in your home. Talk to people who have already tested it, your builder may have some other home owners who did or didn’t do something for a specific reason that may be relevant to you.
   
   
3. If you want a specific third-party certification or have a special need there are programs such as Energy Star, RESNET, or American Lung Association Health House that have guidelines, certifications or tips to more a energy efficient and healthier home.
   
   
4. The most important thing is to ask questions. It can be overwhelming today finding what really is eco-friendly and what isn’t, will it save you money or is it the healthy choice for your family, so ask lots of questions to help you decide which green options are more effective for your home, fit within your budget and meets your needs.