Green building refers to design and construction practices that take into account the well-being of families, communities and the environment. Conservation is central to the green building approach, which often utilizes recycled materials and keeps water, energy and solid waste in mind throughout the design process. As a result, green homes are healthier, safer, more comfortable, and cost less to operate.

A similar concept is natural building, which usually operates on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally. Other commonly used terms include sustainable design and green architecture; however, while good design is essential to green building, the actual operation, maintenance, and ultimate disposal or deconstruction of the building also have very significant effects on buildings' overall environmental impact.

Those interested in using green building should be aware of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System(tm). LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings' performance, both new and existing structures. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Information used in this section was found at the U.S. Green Building Council's Web site.