• Items such as photovoltaic panels lend greatly to green homes.Solar Panels image by alessbonaventura from Fotolia.com
  
  Green homes weave a tight web of features into an efficient living atmosphere. Several features go into green homes, particularly those that are certified by a green building certifier such as the National Green Building Association or U.S. Green Building Council. The insides and outsides of these homes make the most of the environment while reducing the stress put on it.
  
  

Energy Efficiency

• Energy-efficiency is the quintessential factor in green homes. Green homes use a variety of energy saving features such as energy-efficient appliances and lighting fixtures. These products are often identified by having an Energy Star sticker with Energy Star ratings listed. Green homes may also use additional energy saving measures such as photovoltaic panels for electricity and heating.
  
  Other energy-efficient methods include positioning a new home to let in as much natural light as possible, decreasing the dependence on other forms of energy. This positioning should also take into effect the need to protect heat in the winter and repel it in the summer. Windows and doors are also a large part of the energy-efficiency of a home. Windows can account for 30 percent of heat loss in a home, according to Innotech Windows' website; therefore, energy-efficient windows and doors can help protect from using more energy than needed.
  
  

Water

• Water efficiency is achieved by using water saving toilets, faucets and appliances. Low flush toilets use a significantly less amount of water to maintain and operate than standard toilets. Energy-efficient appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines also save water by using less than other appliances.
  
  Outside of the home, water-efficiency is achieved by collecting rain water in barrels for use in the yard and garden and hot water recirculation systems. Protecting the water outside of the home is also an important factor. Green roofs help protect from contaminated run-off. Using permeable materials such as gravel or permeable blocks in driveways and sidewalks allows rain water to soak back into the ground instead of running and collecting contaminants along the way.
  
  

Used Resources

• Within the home, using renewable resources or recycled materials provides resource-efficiency. Quick-growing and highly renewable flooring and building materials such as bamboo, for example, create less stress on the environment and ecosystems. Purchasing carpets and other indoor materials made from recycled content also lessens the stress provided, as raw materials often use much more energy and deplete resources quicker than recycled materials. Certain items--carpet, building materials and rubber--are also made of unconventional materials like corn, according to the Nebraska Corn Board.
  
  

Outside the Green Home

• While most green home features highlight the interior of the home, several features outside of the home are vital to continuing green living outside your living area. Using native and natural plants and creating rain gardens are two prime examples of a green home's exterior. Composting and gardening also create a green atmosphere outside of the home by reducing the amount of energy used to get food to your table.