There was a time when environmentally friendly housing measures were limited to installing solar panels. These days, a growing range of devices and building techniques are available to developers and architects wanting to create dwellings that are environmentally sustainable.

Energy saving is not the only issue. As water bills continue to mount, of increasing concern is how to reduce domestic usage. Water saving devices range from cisterns and devices for catching rainwater to low-flush toilets that use one to two gallons per flush instead of the normal three to five gallons.