Everything seems to be “going green” these days — from cars, to companies, to coffee. However, sometimes it can be hard to tell what that really means, especially when it comes to your current or future home.

Building green means incorporating environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the home building and land development process to minimize environmental impact. During the design, construction, and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality and homeowner maintenance should all be considered. Although we cannot entirely avoid affecting the environment when a house is built, green building can work toward minimizing that environmental impact.

At Courtyard Construction, we recognize the concept of green building isn’t new — our great-grandparents built climate-appropriate homes using locally-available materials. Today’s green homes incorporate not only climatic considerations, but are resource and energy efficient, safer for occupants, and often less expensive to maintain.

Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home’s overall impact on the environment into account. However, many of the processes and technologies that go into a green home happen behind the scenes and behind the walls. What can a homebuyer look for?

Look for an NAHB Certified Green Professional, such as Courtyard Construction, Inc. A building professional working hard as an advocate to further the advancement and acceptance of green building technologies. A homebuyer may also consider homes that have an NAHB Research Center Certified certificate, the homeowner's guarantee that the home was built according to one of the levels of green outlined in either the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard or the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines. The NAHB Research Center is the sole certifier recognized by NAHB’s National Green Building Program.

Courtyard Receives Award
Courtyard Receives Award - Mover & Shakers
Coeur d’Alene Press, February 2010

All Things Green To Be On Display
Coeur d’Alene Press, October 2009

Courtyard A Local Green Leader Pt. 1
Courtyard A Local Green Leader Pt. 2
Coeur d’Alene Press, March 2009