Kermit said it best: “It’s not easy being green.” And he was correct. For a product to be truly “green,” or sensitive to our environment, it should meet rigorous and exacting standards.

Going “green” when buying or building a new home requires meeting criteria that can help consumers save money on utility costs, increase the resale value of a home and help the environment. But many families who are shopping for a new home now request specific green building protocol that can result in improved indoor air quality.

According to the EPA, air within our homes can be more polluted than outdoor air, even in the largest and most industrialized cities. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. There are many sources of indoor air pollution: oil, gas, tobacco products; household cleaning and maintenance products; malfunctioning appliances; plant pollen; pet dander; and pesticides to name just a few. Additionally, chemical sensitivity from building materials is becoming more common. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels, as can high temperatures and humidity. Increasingly, consumers, especially those who suffer from allergy or asthma, or those who live in areas where pollens or allergens are high, are concerned with the quality of air inside their homes.

There are, however, questions consumers can ask, and steps they can take, to improve the indoor air quality of a new home.

First, consumers should inquire about the “green” certification of a specific home. As president of Dallas, Texas-based American Legend Homes (ALH), I oversee the construction and “green” certification of new homes. Certification varies by region but should require that a home meet meticulous construction standards in specific areas. North Texas Green Built certification requires that each home is inspected and certified by independent third-party engineers only after it meets standards in the areas of job site management, water efficiency, energy efficiency, material usage, homeowner education and indoor air quality. The homes are then entered into a registry of certified “green” homes. Only about six percent of new homes meet the green built criteria.

Second, consumers can educate themselves about what products and construction steps can improve indoor air quality, and ask their builder about their company’s criteria for improved indoor air.

All ALH homes use ventilation and filtering features, as well as design guidelines, to improve indoor air quality. For example, the homes have an electronically controlled fresh air intake system tied to the home’s air conditioning unit. This periodically introduces fresh air from the outside to the inside of the home, improving the quality of air and creating a healthier home.

Additional features consumers can ask their builders about, all of which are used in ALH homes, are:

• air supply vents on fireplaces to supply oxygen for fire combustion and avoid smoke emission into the house
• a continuous perforated soffit (eave underside) around the perimeter of a home to reduce attic temperatures and increase attic circulation
• high quality air filtration systems to protect from dust, debris, allergens and pollen
• vapor barrier under foundation to control moisture
• third party thermal bypass inspections, required for ENERGY STAR® home certification, that checks the entire home for missing or incorrectly installed insulation, sealing and air gaps

With indoor air often being more polluted than outdoor air, and research stating that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, for many people, indoor air quality poses a greater risk to our health than exposure to air pollution.

Here are six simple steps for making your existing home “greener”:

1. These are the easiest things to do and it won’t cost you anything to do it. Just turn off lights when you are not using them. Lower your thermostat in the winter. Try to use natural ventilation as much as possible during the summer.

2. When your incandescent light bulbs blow, replace them with energy efficient compact florescent light bulbs (CFL). Eventually, all of your incandescent lights should be switched over to the CFL type.

3. Plant a deciduous tree on the south side of your home. This tree will provide shade for your home and lower your cooling bills during the summer. If you live up north, this tree will lose its leaves during the winter. This will allow more sunlight to pass through the tree and help heat your home during the winter.

4. Add additional insulation in your home. Cellulose insulation can be very cheap compared to other types of insulation. Cellulose insulation is very green and environmentally friendly too.

5. Replace your appliances with Energy Star appliances. This can be expensive, but always try to buy an Energy Star appliance whenever possible. When your appliance breaks down, this is the perfect time to buy an Energy Star appliance. Even though your upfront costs can be high, you will save money in the long run.

6. Replace your heating system with an energy efficient one. This is an expensive long term investment for your home, but it is well worth the money.

By doing these six simple steps, you will be helping the environment while lowering your energy bills. This will save you some real “green”.