It seems only a few years ago that the only one who thought it was cool to be green was Kermit the Frog -- and even then it wasn't always easy.

Today, everyone has jumped on the green bandwagon, and it is gaining speed. As architects, we are bombarded with information on "green," "eco-friendly" and "sustainable" building issues. Every professional magazine, conference and seminar abounds with discussions and studies about how the "built environment" impacts our global environment.

All of this, of course, is a good thing. This Earth is all we have, so being a wise steward of our resources only makes sense and is long overdue.

Obviously new construction -- starting a project from scratch on a vacant piece of property -- is most conducive to taking advantage of all we have learned about eco-friendly building. Of course, it is easier to build a home with the proper solar orientation, insulation and moisture and air barriers as opposed to rearranging and updating an older home. But remodeling in itself is inherently green. By merely keeping your home in existence and in use, you are saving valuable resources. Though you need to try to make that old home less drafty and more energy efficient, every year you live in that "first-growth" wood or masonry made decades ago, you are making good use of the embodied energy in your home.

Part of making your remodeling project green is making sure the basic standards of design and construction are met. Where possible, walls should have a minimum of R-19 insulation and roofs a minimum of R-38. (Insulation effectiveness is noted by an R factor, with high numbers being the best.)