William G. Krizan/ENR

Going green is not as painful or confusing as it seems. New tools and products are sprouting everywhere. The National Association of Home Builders' new green construction program, with its ANSI standard, verification and certification component, home registry and professional designation, will go a long way in elevating sustainable homebuilding in the eyes of builders and customers alike.

The effort largely is designed to blunt mandatory measures now in place in about 154 jurisdictions and allow builders to voluntarily participate at any level, from entry level to emerald. The proof of its effectiveness will be in the marketplace and the performance of the homes, materials and products.

The goal of the Builders Challenge from the U.S. Dept. of Energy is to set homebuilders on the path toward homes that consume zero energy or even produce more energy than they use. Today's homes are a purchaser's biggest use of energy, yet the structures come with little or no information on the consumption rate. That will change to something akin to the ratings on Energy Star appliances or fuel-mileage notices on new cars, if Energy Dept. officials have their way.

All of this represents just a temporary phase, according to some green builders. It may last just 10 or 15 years and then fade into the background, because all construction then will be sustainable.

The movement will produce houses that perform better. They will be more energy efficient, have materials that are better and last longer, contain fewer toxins and will be easier to maintain. With careful planning, the green houses may come with only a slight price premium that can be amortized through their better performance.