There is no better time to go green than when building a new home or remodeling an existing structure. As tremendous advances in materials and design have revolutionized the home construction and remodeling industry, it is vital to go into a project with an understanding that stick construction is no longer your primary or sole option.

For the vast majority of Americans, heating and cooling indoor space requires more energy than all other sources and losses combined. As electric and gas prices continue to climb, the simplest solution to reduce heating and cooling costs is to downsize. There are a number of architects that specialize in the design of small upscale homes and communities. Drawing on today’s materials, their creations result in elegant design and efficient utilization of indoor space. Additionally, smaller appliances and cars can reduce materials required for garages and carports.

Image courtesy of Knight Architect http://www.knightarchitect.com

For new construction, one of the most important decisions ought to be made prior to the building process – the location and orientation of the building pad. It would be energy-foolish to build a house in central Texas with countless picture windows embedded into the southern and western facing walls. Change the location to Leadville, Colorado, and such placement would be ideal.

When it comes to building a house, think top-down. Ensure the attic insulation exceeds the code requirements for your location. Attic ventilation is also important for warmer climates. Even the color of the roof can have positive or negative effects on losses and efficiency as you may not want a black roof in warm climates or a white roof in an alpine setting.

Somewhat less important is outer wall insulation, but switching from 2×4 to 2×6 construction gains you almost 2″ of additional insulation. Better yet, ask your builder to employ Insulating Concrete Forms for the outer walls. Unlike traditional stick construction, ICF walls are consistent when it comes to insulating R-value . Steel framing can reduce the need for load-bearing walls, thus lessening wasted space.

Forced air furnaces can be replaced with radiant heat which is more efficient and does not remove humidity from the air. Radiant heat may be applied to second stories by applying a protective coating of Gyp-Crete lightweight concrete. Water heaters are typically second in energy consumption behind heating and cooling. Old style tank water heaters may be replaced by central tankless units that offer hot water on demand which markedly reduces energy requirements. Tankless water heaters are available from such manufacturers as Takagi, Rheem, Rinnai and Noritz.

Move inside and the real excitement begins. New materials such as bamboo and mesquite add sustainable and durable beauty to floors, and cork has undergone a resurgency as builders have been attracted by its cushioning properties, resilience, renewability and durability. Trend-dependent wallpaper can give way to elegant Japanese paper, cork or tile.

Moving into the kitchen, large, bulky refrigerators can be replaced with smaller units. Modular refrigerators and freezers can be integrated into the cabinetry, saving valuable space. Induction ranges with efficiencies of 90% can replace energy-wasting gas and electric models. Smart washers and dryers save water and electricity, and stacked washer/dryer combos can save several feet of precious space. LED light pucks consuming only three watts can be used throughout the kitchen area.

Exquisite light fixtures with shades of paper or glass can soften living and bedrooms. Fluorescent bulbs consume far less than their incandescent counterparts, and LED’s for standard fixtures are on the horizon. Furniture made from sustainable woods such as pine and bamboo can replace hardwoods harvested from rainforests. Smaller, smartly crafted beds, nightstands and dressers can keep everything in scale.

New construction is the ideal time to re-learn everything you thought you knew about homes. The changes in homebuilding are revolutionary. The days of 3,000 square feet cookie-cutter homes are all but gone, with comfortable and urbane smaller homes and cottages poised for a comeback.