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One popular myth that has been dogging the green building movement for quite some time is that green building methods are somehow more expensive than traditional building methods. It's simply not true.

In the interest of full disclosure, yes, some green materials can be more expensive than their traditional counterparts, but often those same materials save homeowners a considerable amount of money in the long run. Compact fluorescent light bulbs cost more, but they also last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and save energy (which is reflected in your electricity bill). Bamboo flooring might be more expensive than carpeting, but could potentially save you on allergy/asthma related medical bills over the years.

When implemented correctly, over the lifecycle of a house, green (or sustainable) building is more cost-effective than traditional building. In more concrete terms, The Costs and Financial Benefits of Green Buildings: A Report to California's Sustainable Building Task Force, "finds that an upfront investment of less than two percent of construction costs yields life cycle savings of over ten times the initial investment." Not too shabby!

Want to spend the day reading about the cost-effectiveness of building green? Check out these resources, collated by the State of California.