Leeding the Way

This book takes you through 53 homes that reflect the growing trend for environmentally-friendly houses. Resource- and energy-efficient residences are designed to be healthy, comfortable, and easy-to-live-in, and construction of a sustainable home includes using less energy, fewer natural resources, and fewer toxic chemicals. The homes featured here meet a variety of guidelines: LEED, a point-based system with specific certification criteria; Green, a construction standard based on reduction of energy use; Passive, a design standard that can result in a super-insulated, airtight home; andNatural, a type of "green" construction using natural resources without technological intervention. More than 300 images show a wide variety of designs and styles, including cottages and beach houses, prairie and vineyard residences, prefabricated and renovated homes, and much more.