Deb, although you do not say what part of the country you are in (this could be important as many of the credits and grants potentially available depend on the state) your local homebuilders association or chapter of NAHB should have a Green Building committee, or some resources dedicated to sustainable building, and can probably help.

Some states have more incentives than others. Although it's Internet based, for a comprehensive database of incentives across the nation, please refer to DSIREUSA.org.

In general there are the usual incentives, such as tax credits for hot water heaters, available for high efficiency and alternative energy installations.

Grants are harder to come by especially for for-profit private developments.

Your first move in 'going green' should perhaps be to explore the requirement of Energy Star for Homes and the NAHB National Green Building code. The market is slowly being educated on the recognized standards and/or certifications that can help build confidence in the buyer looking for green homes.

As always, keep in mind that a smaller house is a more efficient house.

Some additional articles on this topic are listed below.

Related Advice:

• Green Building Grants: What Federal or State Government Programs are Available?



• Green Business Grants: What Type of Money is Available for LEED Designs?