These days it's all about being clean: clean eating, clean energy, clean water. And so, it comes as no surprise that clean, eco-friendly living has become the new luxury.

To the Gulf Stream Waters

Eco-friendly homes become part of the landscape. Made of light-colored steel, this roof reflects the sun’s heat and extends approximately beyond the house’s wall, creating ample patio space and shade for the windows below.

Curved roofs aid airflow for natural ventilation, while preserving the wildlife and natural resources our land has to offer us. Large windows capture the natural light and take full advantage of the sunlight for solar gain.

You can follow the footsteps along the ribbon of ocean highway and experience the surreal. The ocean bluffs remain open to all, thus making them a community amenity. Roads are also designed to follow the land’s natural contours, emphasizing the bluffs, meadows, and undulating green pastures. Such mimicking of nature helps to avoid overly ostentatious crowded house placements.

All around you, luxury can exist, with little or no need for future home repairs or replacements. This luxury home, with its long-lasting design, is built of durable building materials that tolerate seaside conditions better than most options. As a result, less waste will be generated in the years to follow.

To That Golden Valley

With endless skies above, it's time to bask in the American dream: preserving its green and golden landscape.

You can eat in this luxury, eco-friendly kitchen and experience the sublime. The fundamental material for this countertop is bamboo. Unlike most woods, whose harvest requires the destruction of slow-growing forests, harvested bamboo replaces itself quickly: it is renewable and bamboo forests can be grown in only a few years.

You can work at your desk with the most incredible of views. Glass walls eliminate the need for any fluorescent lighting during the day.

You can effortlessly bathe in the landscape's natural beauty. Include a radiant heat system underneath your bathroom's tile floor, and you will significantly reduce the reliance on any traditional heating system during the winter months.

Could it get any cleaner? The use of an eclectic mix of sustainable, green products, such as bamboo floors and formaldehyde-free fabrics, introduces fewer chemicals into the environment of the modern luxury home. There’s no one part that creates a healthy house, it takes a collective effort for all the pieces to work harmoniously together.

This kitchen’s garage-style door permits instant access to the deck area and admits cooling breezes. Easy, effortless and environmentally sound.

You can easily enjoy the pristine beauty of luxury living that leaves no environmental imprint. The placement of this house and its decks was dictated by the existing trees, limiting the number that were cut during construction. In return, the trees provide privacy and shade to keep the house cool.

All images courtesy of Christie's International Real Estate

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Energy Efficiency

Creating an energy efficient home is easier than ever before with a growing market for home additions that can both save the planet and save you money. From solar panels harnessing the power of the sun to living roofs and walls with plants that help keep out the summer heat, green construction can be involved from the top down in home construction. For the tech savvy, eco-friendly and high-tech also go hand in hand in your home. From in-wall touch screens to smartphone apps, you can control everything from light to heat to keep your home at peak efficiency. There are so many ways to save some green while embracing green additions to your home.

Locally Sourced Materials

Using local and sustainable materials in construction or renovation is yet another way to be both green and stylish. Reclaimed wood flooring and locally sourced stone countertops are just a few ways you can design a beautiful home while reducing your carbon footprint. And it doesn’t have to stop in the home. Using local plants and options like eco-friendly artificial grass can keep your property beautiful while reducing both your environmental impact and your water bill.

Energy Certification

Certifications for being green can help you know you’re doing your part for the planet and add value to your home. Certifying bodies like Energy Star and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) recognize a home’s commitment to green building and energy efficiency. With the amount of green certified homes rapidly growing, now could be the perfect time to embrace the trend towards green housing.

There are so many benefits to joining the trend of green housing. Knowing you’re doing your part for the planet is worth the price of investing in environmentally friendly designs. Making your home energy efficient can also save you money, cutting back on your energy bills. And if you’re selling or investing, your property will also see an increase in value and marketability when you add popular eco-features. Today could be the perfect day to take a step towards reducing your carbon footprint and seeing what going green can do for you and your home.

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