When it comes to green buildings, most people think of either sleek, super modern architecture, or weird, organic forms. For the past three years I worked on a LEED Platinum home that was specifically designed to blend into its surroundings. Located in an older north suburb of Chicago, the house was surrounded by hundred-year old buildings, and this project, while using modern technology and building techniques, fits right in. More

LivingHomes recently launched its latest prefabrication called the C6: a 1,200 square foot home with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Designed as part of a new partnership with Make It Right, a nonprofit founded by Brad Pitt and Cradle to Cradle's William McDonough, the C6 is available in most states for $179,000 ($145/sf); it can be fully constructed in less than two months and installed on-site in one day. More

Prefab homes are often associated with cookie-cutter design and cheap construction. Bensonwood Homes, however, is a shining example of how prefab, factory made homes can be both original and sustainable. Check it out! More

We have a thing for tree houses here at Apartment Therapy, and when I came across this project by Tezuka Architects, I knew I had to share. Built around a Zelkova tree, this annex is adjacent to an elementary school in Tokyo. Inside there are two main levels, each with a classroom where language classes are taught, and the building also serves as a play area when the kids are waiting for their buses after school. More

It's that time of year where one of the few everyday comforts is sitting by a warm, roaring fireplace. While fireplaces were originally incorporated into homes as a primary source of heat, in recent years they've gotten a bad reputation for being heat suckers and only good for decoration. There are actually a few great types of fireplaces that can be used, for anyone from apartment dwellers to home owners, that are sure to keep you cozy and warm, and maybe even reduce your heating bill. More

It's been very well documented that visual feedback is enough to help consumers decrease their energy use by as much as 15%. By understanding their own energy use, people can make better decisions regarding consumption, saving money and reducing demands on the energy grid during peak periods. So wouldn't it be great if we could control and view our resource consumption, anywhere at anytime, even with our smart phones? More

Transforming shipping containers into habitable homes isn't a new concept to our Re-Nest community. So far, reviews have been overwhelmingly positive in favor of this type of re-use but now, an alternative viewpoint is emerging arguing that there may be more of a downside than originally thought. More

There are a lot of choices when and comes to insulation materials (we've covered several green options), but knowing what type to use and how to use it can be confusing. Once you've figured out where you need to insulate, determining the best method is your next step. Check out our picks after the jump to find out how to get the best bang for your insulation buck! More

One of the first things people look to when designing or renovating a home is good, energy efficient windows. But, with the ever changing window technology and tax incentives, it can be hard to sort out the good from the bad, so after the jump we've highlighted the most important things to look for to save money and energy. More

There are a lot of green building techniques to make a house more energy and resource efficient than a conventional building — one of these, Passive House, has been showing up in the news more recently as a leading green standard and certification of an energy efficient building. But even for us it can be hard to keep track of the various terms and certifications, so we've asked a green architect, Mark Miller, to help explain Passive House building: More