The ultimate goal of going green is to create a sustainable lifestyle locally and globally. In today's eco-conscious economy, the term sustainable is replacing green in many investment portfolios and marketing campaigns.

Though the two terms mean basically the same thing, the concept of sustainability in the home goes a step further than green by demanding that the home operate at a standard higher than high performance.

Besides being super efficient in energy and natural resource consumption, sustainable takes into account the lifecycle of the home in context of the lifecycle of the planet.

In short, to build a sustainable home you have to meet the needs of today without hurting the chances for future generations to meet the needs of their time.

Some aspects of a sustainable building are:

• Zero-energy use through onsite power generation from solar panels or wind turbines

• Water collection and recycling, including gray water

• Healthy, comfortable, inviting living space
  

Like green, sustainable also takes into account the human element. A critical part of sustainable building is to not sacrifice comfort or aesthetics along the way. Indoor air quality is important, but so are things that create a more livable space like view and lighting. Creating a home that is sustainable can seem daunting, but you can start the process simply by planting native grasses in your yard or researching the possibility of adding a solar panel to your home.