Whether its an architect, a home designer or a contractor, it is always important to know who you are hiring to build, design, renovate or improve your home. This is especially true when it comes to the design of a green home or modifying a home to be more sustainable.

Check credentials, find work that they have completed, talk to their former clients. I have often been called in after the fact to help a family fix the problems of "professionals" that were in over their heads.

When looking for a professional for your green home project, look for a level of expertise that isn't centered around catch phrases and greenwashing.

I have looked in my area for "green" home designers and architects and have found none that specifically specialize in it. I also looked around at the contractors and neighborhoods and none seem to be focused on building green.

Are there any other resources that you know of. I really want to do this right and I myself know nothing about the building trades. I just know I want to do my part and I want to learn and grow into a green life.

You might want to look into your local chapter of the United States Green Building Council. www.usgbc.org

You might also want to look into LEED for Homes. This program makes attempts to nationalize the green residential movement into one cohesive standard.

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.as...ageID=1554

That site will lead you to a listing of the current LEED for Homes providers which will get you started if that is the path you wish to take.

bob, finding the right design professional is like choosing your favorite artist or chef. Its not just what they have done in the past or their qualifications. Sure those things are important, but what you also want to focus on is how you relate to them. This person will be creating your home (not just a house). I often think that the current trends of disposable homes is because people don't pay attention to how they live in their houses and subsequently buy homes that don't fit them or their lifestyles. Find the professional who want to know you and how you live and they will create the home that you will never want to leave.

roland, how very true. In my career as an architectural designer, it is surprising to see how many client architect relationships are ill formed. Sometimes people just want to work with so and so because they know that there has been good work come out of an office or an individual in the past. The relationship falls apart because the client and the architect have differing opinions and approach design and life from different perspectives. It goes without saying that both are at fault, but this could all be handled early if the consumer would look for the right professionals.

pd, I think in part you are right. People want to work with the best rather than working with the right professional, but I also see that the professional must adapt to the needs and styles of interaction of the client. This is hard to do at times, but its part of the struggle with being a design professional.

Hi..,
I am agree with you but not at all points.I think people want to hire to work with the best workers rather than doing from the professional architectures.Are you agree with me on this point?