You may have heard the term 'LEED Certified', but what does that mean? LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A home that is LEED certified uses less energy, water and other natural resources that promote a healthier home design for both the home owner and the planet. There are five major keys to be considered when looking for a LEED certification, these include; water savings, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, site development and the materials that are selected for building the home.

Any home can be made into a 'green home' it comes down to the simple process of changing the way you think and live. It doesn't matter if you own, if your building or if you rent, turning your home green can be done all at once or gradually. In addition to the health benefits and the global benefits, there are also financial benefits to owning a green home, as many state/local government agencies and utility companies offer different forms of rebates and tax breaks.

The government offers a multitude of different tax credits to home owners who have added some form of green design to their home, including solar electric systems and geothermal heat pumps. Check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for local incentives that are available to you for switching over to the green lifestyle including changing your appliances over to an energystar system.

I'm certain there will be more incentives and programs coming up in the future, keep checking back for updates!