"If there is no one there to certify it, is it still green?"

The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive defines green building as "the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use energy, water, and materials," and "reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal--the complete building life cycle."

Although green building, or sustainable design and development, has gained currency in the last decade, it's roots date back more than a century and argueably beyond. Because of Buckminster Fuller and other "design outlaws" we are not exactly reinventing the wheel here, just adapting it to our current society.

So when we come across an earth friendly home that isn't certified and hasn't been built in the last five years or so, can we still call it green? Of course we can and here's why.

This hilltop home located in Lake Forest Park was custom built in the 50's and featured in Sunset Magazine for its northwestern contemporary design. True to the style of Frank Lloyd Wright there is no attic or crawl space under the house which means that all spaces are inhabited.

The current owner, a craftsman by trade, has kept the home true to its earth-friendly roots. Natural clay based plaster now adhorns many of the interior walls including the fireplace, recycled Ash wood floors were added in the main living area, Vita Grande or Eucalyptus wood replaced the master bedroom carpet, slate tiles replaced lineoleum in the kitchen and skylights were added for maximum daylighting.

Most of the south facing wall is floor to ceiling windows which maximizes solar gain in the winter, with an overhanging roof that shades the glass in the summer. Plus the natural topography of the 16,000sf lot, combined with abundant conifers, creates unparalleled privacy.

In solitude, on the east side of the house, the master suite is a natural extension of the forest itself.

So again, is it green simply because we say its green?