The Holidays are all about Home. Kitchens filled with family recipes and helping hands; dining rooms stuffed with musical chairs. For some of us, Home is in front of the fireplace, on our parents' saggy couches from the 80s, and we wouldn't dream of changing a thing. (Well, maybe those drafty windows...) For others, Home is always evolving — constantly changing to reflect who we are becoming as people and as a society. More

Whether you choose to go green by timing your showers, buying an energy-efficient furnace, or learning to love bamboo, one thing is certain: Green is an adjustment for all of us. It requires not just a change in habits, technology, and materials, but also a change in the way we think and the way we do. More

As we wrote earlier this week, the 4th biannual Solar Decathlon wrapped up last weekend in Washington, DC with its highest accolades going to the defending champions from Darmstadt, Germany and their latest minimalist design. The competition, which is sponsored by the US Department of Energy, is intended to promote the research and development of Zero-Energy Homes (ZEHs) — that is, homes that use a combination of passive design, renewable energy, and energy-efficient techniques to achieve a net-zero pull from the grid. More

I won't go on and on about the state of the economy. Let's just say times are tough. Fortunately for the environmentally-minded set, consumption is antithetical to a green lifestyle. Instead of putting those green projects on hold, just tweak them a little. Opportunities for homeowners who don't mind a little sharing abound... More

Something about fall reminds me of how this delightfully moderate weather will soon fall victim to its proceeding, chillier counterpart — namely, winter. Rather than hibernate with escalating heating bills or escape for a more tropical climate (it's a great season for a staycation), consider a warm bath... More

Today, in the age of population explosion and shortage of resources, professionals in architecture have to ask themselves what they have contributed in the last four decades toward protecting the environment. Apart from the introduction of world-wide energy saving standards, the development of the architecture industry has been merely reduced to going through various architectural styles. The roots for environmental concern have been marginalized, and therefore opportunities for environmental protection have been missed... More

It seems these days that just about every building project has a “green” label on it. Everyone wants to reduce his or her carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gasses. LEED certification has become the gold standard for judging a building’s environmental impact. Or perhaps, I should say, the platinum standard, as platinum is the highest level of certification a building can hope to achieve... More

We all know by now that installing energy efficient appliances will save you money down the road. Just by replacing an old clothes washer with one that is Energy Star rated can save you over $135 a year. But did you know there are other ways in which going green can add to your wallet? From the federal government to your local bank, opportunity awaits. First, let’s see what Obama has to offer... More

(Welcome to Julia Brooke Hustwit, one of the finalists for our Green Architect blogger search. She's writing from Brooklyn. Comment away!)

Thabo Fisher and Michael Weaver were hiking in Uganda when they got into an argument over whether it was still possible to build a house with one's own hands. The long-time pals, then in their early twenties, knew that they would be coming home from their trip to face the inevitable: friends moving away, getting married, having kids. They wanted a way to keep everyone together, and it occurred to them in that moment that if they could build a home-away-from-home for all of their friends and family, they might be able to do just that... More

Sixty years ago developer Joseph Eichler left his memorable mark on southern California cityscapes by establishing extensive quarters of affordable, architecturally significant residences. Supported by some of the region’s notable mid-century architects, Eichler created stylish homes with modern features, open floor plans, and plenty of room to enjoy the local climate. Unique facades, breezy interiors, soaring ceilings and characteristic glass atriums are the characteristics that make Eichlers as popular and desirable today as they were when first erected in post-war suburbs half a century ago... More