What is the most innovative idea that can be incorporated into building a green, energy-efficient home?

This could be anything when constructing a home from scratch to renovating an existing building. Examples: use of compact florescent lighting, cellulose insulation, xeriscaping, etc. Thanks in advance!!

Public Comments

1. I have heard of solar shingles. They are flexible thin film solar cells built to actually BE real roofing shingles that you make your roof with. They look pretty much like an ordinary asphalt shingle. They are less efficient than the traditional panel on a watt per square foot basis, but because you don't have to pay for shingles AND solar panels, they can make a cheaper solar roof than panels over a regular roof.
2. First build it into the ground if terrain permits. Ground temp is very steady and predictable, operates heat pumps on very little current. Solar panels for circulating fans to move air inside the home, perhaps installed in the duct work. Panels on the grass-covered roof.
3. keep the building and running costs down to a minimum to save the cost of interest required to pay for it engineered insulation use hebel blocks double glaze if you have solar it does not matter which bulbs you have.
4. All of those other ideas, plus a friggin trash compactor!! It should be law for every household to have one - I can only speculate but I think the amount of garbage we dump onto the earth would be, um, compacted, lots. Any little thing helps, people!! Don't buy bottled water, give that money to hungry kids instead!!
5. the one that i saw that made me go wow is a fresh air exchanger that transfers the heat or coolness for the air it is getting out of your house and putting it into the fresh air it is bringing in needed because green houses are not as drafty as older houses