This is the question: What do you consider to be the single most important factor in determining if a home is ‘green?’

According to the results of a study performed by Synovate and commissioned by FreeGreen (the semi-free house plan provider that’s designed Tiny Houses, Smart Boxes, View Boxes, and more), American homeowners collectively feel that in terms of a home’s greenness, energy efficiency and environmentally friendly materials rank higher on the list than healthy materials and location.  Here’s how homeowners answered:

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In the southeast Seattle neighborhood of Beacon Hill, you’ll find four, modern, single-family homes.  The development was completed by Dwell Development LLC, and each residence received Built Green 5-Star certification, which is the highest level possible within the Built Green program.  Located at 1756, 1758, 1760, and 1762 18th Avenue South, two of the homes have 800 watt solar arrays and the other two are wired and ready to go.  These 1,600+ square-foot homes also have some of the following green elements:

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Boulder, Colorado-based Parasoleil makes these panels from a variety of so called green materials, such as FSC-certified wood, aluminum, and steel.  The copper panels, in particular, are interesting.  Using 90-95% recycled content copper, these panels are made in a zero waste process that uses efficient waterjet manufacturing.  And they're 100% recyclable, too.  I've shown a variety of panels in this article, as well as a playful powder-coated application (above) and steel and copper patinas images (below).  

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Southern Liberties, LLC, recently completed a massive overhaul of this Philadelphia rowhouse and documented the process on the blog, Building Green on Montrose.  The 100-year old, 1,850 square foot home now has three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, and the owners hope to obtain LEED Platinum certification for their efforts.  It’s listed for sale at $565,000 and incorporates some of the following green strategies:

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• The American Dream vs. sustainability.
• Preservation is the avant-garde of sustainability.
• The role of landscape architects in green design.
• LEED is not an exemplary indication of energy performance.
• Students flocking to green degrees, careers.
• Budget woes force green building to cut back.
• Old materials get a new, lucrative life.
• Rating systems spur sustainability.
• Saving green by going green.

We had a Facebook Group page, but we're now moving things to a new page for Jetson Green.  Fan us if you're on Facebook, or if you're already done with it, try us on Twitter at @jetsongreen.