While the list of projects is great (and suggested) reading, what really impressed me was the criteria AIA/COTE used to whittle down the list. We often talk about what it takes to make a building green, but AIA/COTE metrics of measurement are a marvel. Each project was rated against ten criteria, and many of these overlap the standard green building measuring stick like water conservation, energy efficiency and using environmentally responsible materials.

But, for homebuyers, or homebuilders, looking to go beyond EnergyStar appliances and extra insulation, AIA/COTE have come up with some wonderful approaches to get the imagination, and the design team, working on green.

Here are a few of my favorite benchmarks:

Number 2: Regional/Community Design & Connectivity.
Sustainable design values the unique cultural and natural character of a given region.

This sounds like a "feel-good" idea, but the implications are interesting. Besides making sure a new structure "fits" with the local community, the design must also provide a public space and a promote community interaction. To apply this to new home construction, how about bringing back the front porch or installing community gardens in large developments? Another aspect of this measurement is that buildings are rated on how well they reduce parking lots and promote alternative transportation. For new homes, integrating bike paths and lobbying for extended bus lines and car-pool lanes should always be on the table.

Top Ten Measure 4: Bioclimatic Design
Sustainable design conserves resources and maximizes comfort through design adaptations to site-specific and regional climate conditions. Building design should respond to local climate, sun path, prevailing breezes, and seasonal and daily cycles through passive design strategies.

By far one of my favorite common sense approaches to green building. This wisdom which served our species well for thousands of years was discarded with the invention of climate controlling appliances. It boils down to taking the time to understand the local weather patterns and then working with Mother Nature to create a more energy efficient and comfortable house. Site placement, natural shading, and simple venting can all be employed to reduce the energy load of a house year around.

Top Ten Measure 10: Collective Wisdom & Feedback Loops
Sustainable design strategies and best practices evolve over time through documented performance and shared knowledge of lessons learned.

In the world of individual home ownership, the power bill is the personal, but the impact of use is global. With this in mind, how better to evaluate a green building than to document your goals, evaluate your results, and share the information with the community?

I'm pretty sure that large production builders might balk at some of these ideas. Trying to create a unique building experience with a mass-production mentality is a challenge. But how different the new home market might be if homeowners know that there is more to green building than R-values and bamboo floors?