If you, like so many people today, want to "do the right thing" when it comes to keeping environmental concerns
in mind when designing, then this will be helpful  for you.  Website resources that you may find very helpful in this
regard exist at present.  Many environmental products are listed via internet sites.

There are a varety of elements to be considered and there are a plethora of books around to help you get the
particulars right.  Many of the books are specific to only one or perhaps several components of design.
Keeping the spaces designed small is a good way to conserve energy and materials.  In the US, there has
been a trend towards building the largest enclosed space that one can afford.  Hopefully, this trend could be
reversed.  High quality clever designs would be smaller, more on the human scale, and more responsible.
Below is a fairly comprehensive checklist you could use when working out particulars of the building design.

1.  Recycled and Renewable Products

a.  Specify Structure - such as steel, concrete, or earth which will be resistant for fire, earthquakes and termites
b.  For finishes - Consider interior and exterior area alternatives where possible such as reused brick for exterior or for fireplace hearth and surround - it could also be used for exterior hardscape elements or interior floor surfaces in utility areas. Sealed concrete floors, quarry tile, etc. are durable good choices.
c.  Existing concrete can be broken and reused for planters or crushed and recycled into new concrete.
d.  Avoid use of old growth woods – consider bamboo, staw etc. instead

a.  Use daylight from well placed windows/skylights - research solar angles and provide shading types of overhangs where needed
b.  Windows/skylights should be operable where placed for ventilation - research prevailing wind directions forr seasonal planning of window placement
c.  Specify energy efficient appliances - refrigerator, cooktop, etc.
d.  Provide ceiling fans and exhaust fans in spaces where needed
e.  Specify fluorescent or halogen lighting fixtures and allow natural light in for daylighting
f.  Specify exterior lighting to be motion sensing or on timers so that it is only used when needed
g.  Consider appropriate colors of finshes - dark colors increase solar gain while white or very light colors decrease solar gain

a.  Specify low flush (code required generally) and composting type toilets (current codes may seem restrictive, but they are allowed under certain parameters)
b.  Specify low flow showerheads (code required generally)
c.  Collect rainwater and discharge to plants or greywater storage
d.  Install a filtered greywater system if possible (code requirements may restrict)

a.  Specify drought tolerant plants or hire a landscape architect to do so
b.  Consider drip irrigation or soaker hose below surface irrigation
c.  Consider grasscrete, gravel and sand which are permeable to water and can be bordered by hardscape to keep them in place rather than all hardscape materials which increase albedo and allow valuable water to run off into gutters and storm drains

a.  Consider monitoring building systems performance with computer equipment to schedule usage and to act as a timer for some systems

a.  Reduce or remove dependance on Grid based energy with active and passive Energy Features such as a solar hot water heater or pre hot water heater
b.  Specify the flooring to be concrete with or without tile that can act as a thermal mass
c.  Consider a solar powered hydronic heating system

a.  Use a higher R-value for roof, wall, and floor assembly to superinsulate for heat and cold
b.  Consider hydroponic roof garden as an insulating method, but only if there will be a provision for routine maintenance and occasional inspection

a.  Paint to be non-toxic
b.  Joint compound for gypsum board to be non-toxic
c.  Linoleum or ceramic tile instead of vinyl
d.  Avoid using carpet.  If you must, natural fibers and no glue will be best.

a.  Filters for air, such as a Hepa filter can help for those with sensitivities
b.  Multistage water filtration is the best way to go

a.  Berms
b.  Increase setback of building from noise where possible
c.  Mask noise with water sound from fountains and other natural sound devices

a.  No carpets will keep the entire building cleaner
b.  An air filtration system will keep the ducts cleaner
c.  Automation of watering and lighting as well as other building systems
d. An exterior finish that doesn't require resurfacing, repainting or staining

a.  be responsible about following your specifications
b.  be knowledgeable about environmental feature installation