While it’s easy to imagine the perfect green home, building one can be a lot more difficult. Every decision you make as part of your remodeling or building project has an impact on your wallet and the world around you. That’s why making wise choices is important. From the toilet to the tiling, home building sustainably has to be carefully planned.

For instance, a sustainable roof is one of the most difficult tasks in ecologically friendly building. Aesthetics are important, but you’ll also need to think about the environmental impact and longevity of what you’re using. Thatched roofs are a popular choice, with a high R value and low ecological impact. However, they require maintenance and you’ll have to find a professional thatcher.

Living roofs are popular, especially in urban areas. These are flat or nearly flat roofs which contain a soil layer and support plant life. These plants act as an insulative later, and they deflect heat away from the building. They require watering in some cases, and may be heavy, requiring extra reinforcement of buildings that will have them.

There are lots of other roof options, too. They include metal, tile, wood shakes, and many more. You’ll have to look at each and decide what you want out of a roof and how sustainable it needs to be.

You should also look at the way your home uses water. Toilets are big water hogs, and replacing yours with a more efficient one is a good decision. Use a low flow toilet, composting toilet, or similar device to reduce the amount of water you personally use. Some people also use gray water or rainwater capture systems to help them use less water or make better use of the water they have.

Finishes have an effect on the sustainability and the health of your home. Painting can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air for years after they’re applied. These are dangerous for people with chemical sensitivities, and may be carcinogenic. Choose natural or low VOC paints and finishes instead.

Flooring is another area that doesn’t get a lot of attention, but is important. Most people have nylon based carpet, which is fast to wear out, toxic to produce, unattractive and hard to recycle. Instead of carpet, consider bamboo, tiles made from recycled glass, wood flooring from sustainable or recycled sources, or real, old fashioned linoleum.

Outdoor areas, like the deck, should be considered, too. Salvaged lumber is the best, but other lumber is actually less damaging to the environment than metal or concrete. It takes less fuel to make and transport it, and if your lumber is harvested in a country with good conservation laws, the resource will be well protected. Composite lumber is another option. Made from recycled plastics and waste wood, it’s a useful material. However, working with it can be difficult.

Remember that heating and air conditioning are big energy sinks. Use a heat pump to transfer heat from the ground when it’s not cold enough to use a furnace or warm enough for air conditioning. This will reduce your costs for heating and cooling, and help you use less energy. Pellet stoves, solar heat, and radiant heat are also popular choices.