Green housebuilding in Scotland is in its infancy, trailing far behind fellow northern Europeans. Small-scale developments do exist, however, and there are ways to check the energy efficiency of new properties.

1 TRY BEFORE YOU BUY, www.breeam.org; www.projects.bre.co.uk

Check the environmental credentials of your dream new build. SAP is the government's Standard Assessment Procedure for energy rating of dwellings, requiring all developers to provide a rating for new developments. Have a look. Meanwhile the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) for Ecohomes in Scotland allocates four grades to a housing development: pass, good, very good, excellent.

2 FIND INSPIRATION IN FINDHORN,01309 690311, www.ecovillagefindhorn.org

The Findhorn Community is a global pioneer in sustainable living and green housebuilding. The community has erected 45 ecologically sound buildings featuring extensive use of solar panels and other energy- saving techniques. It also published the UK's first guide to ecological housing, Simply Build Green.

3 LOCAL HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS, www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk; www.sfha.co.uk

In the Sustainable Housing Design Guide for Scotland 2007, of the 23 case studies listed 18 were initiated by local housing associations using a myriad of design techniques and ecological technologies. Albyn Housing Society, for example, is aiming for an Ecohomes excellent rating for its development in Aviemore which uses a biomass district heating system to serve 100 properties.

4 USE A GREEN ARCHITECT www.gaiagroup.org; www.johngilbert.co.uk; www.locatearchitects.co.uk; www.austinsmithlord.com

For those that can afford it, the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland has a Sustainable Building Design Accreditation scheme based on criteria including effective resource use, minimising pollution and promoting biodiversity.

5 GREEN IT YOURSELF www.selfbuild-scotland.org.uk; www.ecodesign.co.uk; www.sust.org www.seda2.org

There is always the self-build option. Consider a timber- frame house. Architects Gale & Snowden are developing a series of ecologically sound kit houses for self- build or prefabrication. Features include triple glazing, non-toxic materials, airtight construction and solar panels.