News 12 at 6 o'clock / Thursday, Jan. 12, 2012

MARTINEZ, Ga. -- Jim Mayfield is showing off his family's new home.

"This has been a 20-year project for us. We've been dreaming of building our own house for a long time now," Mayfield explained.

And the Mayfields didn't just want any home, they wanted an extreme green home -- one that is LEED-certified.

"LEED" stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It means more than just a new washer and dryer, it means going green from start to finish.

And a pair of brothers at Ivey Residential were up to the challenge.

"This takes it many steps farther and focuses on the house as a whole ... the magic is in the mix," said Matt Ivey, of Ivey Residential.

LEED-certified is Energy Star efficient on the inside, but it's also just as green on the outside.

"This home will probably be 35 to 40 percent more efficient than a code-built home," Mark Ivey said.

Everything from the site itself, to the windows and even the unused waste, have the environment and rising energy costs in mind.

"We've put in specialized materials to ward off UV radiation and keep the roof cooler ... thereby lowering the cost of heating and cooling the house," Mayfield said.

A green home like the Mayfields' may cost you more green up front, but Mayfield says it will save you down the road.

"When you consider the savings that you're going to gain from lower power bills, it's not bad. It's really the way to go," Mark said.

The Mayfields hope to be moved into their new home on Old Stevens Creek this summer.

You can save money and help the environment without building a new home. We've got some suggestions on our website here.