The common misconception about green building is that it is either ultra-contemporary, built with inferior materials, or it is extreme in design like an underground dwelling. In fact, green building does not have to be that exotic. You probably even have materials and appliances that would be considered green in your home today, regardless of when it was originally built.

If you’re interested in a home that is designed to take advantage of natural sun and shade, has an efficient heating and cooling system, conserves water, uses renewable resources and avoids materials that contain formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals, then you want a green home.

So how green can a home be if it wasn’t built with the goal of being eco-friendly? This beach house in Rosemary Beach, Fla., was renovated by Nashville architect Scott Wilson. It is a second home for the owners, who either use it or loan it to friends nearly every week. The home was originally a spec house with a good basic design that needed improving.

GREEN QUALITIES

1. Small square footage. Just 687 square feet comfortably houses this family of four and in fact, the home sleeps five conveniently.

2. Bamboo floors. This fast-growing plant is more eco-friendly than slower-growing wood and its cutting has a smaller negative impact on the Earth.

3. All appliances are Energy Star rated. In addition, the laundry center is a high-efficiency, front-loading stackable washer and dryer.

4. Exterior lights are only 25 watts. Besides alleviating light pollution at night, this measure keeps turtles in the area safer. Turtles are drawn to light when they nest and lay eggs. These dimmer lights don’t tempt turtles to cross roads between the beach and the neighborhood.

5. Natural daylight. The large number of windows admit enough natural light to eliminate the need for electric lights until evening. Also, the windows are placed high on the wall with an overhang outside that is wide enough to shade these windows in the summer months.

6. Low-e, operable windows. Low-e glass transmits heat more slowly than regular glass, helping to insulate the home better. Operable windows on all four sides and in the loft allow for ventilation reducing the need for HVAC.

7. The insulation in the roof is a high R-Value open cell spray foam insulation. This type of insulation is significantly more insulating than traditional Fiberglas.

8. The light-colored metal roof reflects light, which keeps the whole house cooler.

9. The HVAC is located in the attic in semi-conditioned space. This saves money by improving heating and cooling efficiency.

10. An air barrier was installed between the garage and the living space making it impossible for exhaust fumes to enter the home.

HOW IT COULD BE GREENER

1. Use low-VOC or no-VOC paints, caulks and sealants to improve indoor air quality. VOCs are volatile organic compounds.

2. Either install dual flush toilets that let you flush with as little as .9 gallons of water, or use a greywater recycling system where filtered water is collected from the bathroom sink and shower, filtered and used to flush toilets.

3. The kitchen cabinets are painted, so a more eco-friendly choice in material would have been an engineered wood product that uses younger wood more efficiently.

4. Low-flow shower heads and sink lavs conserve more water than standard choices.

5. The exterior siding material is Western Red Cedar which is a good choice for an exterior wood. A more eco-friendly option would have been fiber cement board that looks just like wood. It is more resistant to rot, it holds paint longer requiring less maintenance and is made from 90 percent cement/sand mix with 10 percent wood fiber.

6. For greener countertops, choose either reclaimed wood, recycled stainless steel, or a recycled metal or glass.

For more information or to subscribe at the introductory price of $10 a year, go to positivelygreen.com . Positively Green magazine launches in 2008. This quarterly women’s magazine will cover every aspect of green from eco-friendly vacations to green fashion to green health. With articles that don’t just explain the problems, they outline solutions for busy people who want to make the change but don’t have the time to research solutions.