·         Energy Star Rated Appliances

·         Programmable Thermostats 

·         Self Cleaning Ovens

·         Heating sources such as Natural Gas , Solar Energy, or Geothermal

·         A well-insulated, air tight envelope with a minimum R-21 walls, minimum R-38 roof, and a minimum R-30 floor

·         Windows certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) with a U- Value of 0.35 or lower.

·         Gas Hot Water Heaters with efficiencies of 0.60 or greater or Electric Hot Water Heaters with an efficiency of 0.92 or greater, Tankless Hot Water Heater, and / or an On Demand Hot Water Heater

·         HERS score less than 90 

·         Lower your Hot Water Thermostat to 120⁰F or 49⁰C.

·         Sustainable building materials such as recycled glass, structurally insulated panels (SIPS) , Cement Board Siding, locally produced materials, and wood or cabinet products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

·         Location, Location, Location: Check available transit services before buying to make sure you can get to work, school, medical or hospitals, recreation, grocery, food, and dining.

·         The cost of car ownership is high.  You could save a considerable amount of money just by living in a walkable neighborhood. To find out if the neighborhood you are considering is walkable (close to the amenities you want and need) you can check out the local walk score.