A sneak peak at Irvine's first custom green home reveals efficient, yet accessible possibilities.

Building an energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable home isn't only for the eccentric or the rich. Just ask Tom and Ann Whitehair of Irvine, California. They're a real-world couple, with a real-world budget who want to take care of our environment. When it came time to renovate their 1970s Irvine home, they took the opportunity not just to modernize but to build a sustainable home for the future from the ground up. Their ultimate plan is to be completely self-sustaining and "off the grid," but reaching that goal will take time.

Fortunately, they found an architecture firm, RNM Design, of Newport Beach, California, that could help them design a home that will meet their needs (and budget) now while still leaving room for additional green features in the future. For example, the Whitehairs aren't ready to purchase photovoltaic panels just yet, but RNM designed the roof for easy instillation when it is time to go solar.

Although the home will have features such as low-flow faucets, compact fluorescent bulbs, and non-electric heating, the architects say that when it comes to building an eco-friendly home, technology is only one part of the equation. "Technology should be the last thing you add to the house, says Kavita Rodrigues, a LEED certified professional also working on the project. "You can buy technology, but if the site design isn't right, you're just wasting energy. It should be a supplement."

In order to create a truly efficient building, one must start with the design. And that is just what RNM did. First, they maximized the space and movement of air by blowing the house apart and centering it around a courtyard. They also maximized views of the historic eucalyptus windrow trees behind the lot, creating and indoor/outdoor lifestyle and effectively doubling the living area. The breezy design is more than an aesthetic - it allows the home to be air-conditioned free, saving electricity and reducing pollution. "People would design better if they couldn't rely on A/C," says Jay Larsson, RNM CEO and design principal. "I believe you really have to think about what you're doing to learn to live in the environment rather than creating a new one."

The good news is that by living in harmony with your environment, you can save money on utilities. And as demand for sustainable materials increases - and what was a niche market becomes mainstream - prices will come down.

"Good design doesn't have to cost more," says Larsson. "It's just good design."