Try to get items that have been salvaged, reused or via craigslist Focus on recycled content, regional products, rapidly renewable materials, certified wood and ability to be recycled
Lighting
- energy efficient
- LED lighting
Walls
- insulation - low/no VOC
- wallboard - low/no VOC
- paint - low/no VOC
- wallpaper
Flooring
- carpet - low/no VOC
- stone
- wood
- cork
- bamboo
- concrete
Counters
- recycled content
- rapidly renewable materials
Cabinets
- low/no VOC
- rapidly renewable materials, certified wood
Bathroom Fixtures
- water efficient
Furniture
- low/no VOC
Appliances
- energy efficient
Hot Water Heater
- tankless water heater
- energy efficient
Composter
Landscaping
- native plants and stone
- xeriscape (low water plants)
- transplant existing trees and bushes instead of removing and planting new ones
- use the natural contours of the land
- minimize impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt to control run-off and allow water to reach water table
- drip or subsurface irrigation instead of sprinklers
- coniferous trees in the north, deciduous trees in south to maximize cool in summer, heat in winter
- bushes and berms to dampen noise
- graywater reclamation system to convert building wastewater into irrigation water