It's not uncommon to spend $200, $300 or more on a summer electricity bill. Energy prices are going higher all the time and in this country we use an incredible amount of energy. Many people are looking for ways to change that. We've grown up taking energy for granted. It seemed cheap and plentiful, while the negative impacts were not always as obvious as they are now. Our utility bills are acting as a major wake-up call. It's time to roll out of our slumber and get serious.

One consequence of our addiction to energy is the ever-expanding need to produce more of it. There are plans to build several major new coal-burning electrical plants in Nevada, including one in our own backyard near Mesquite. When do we stop? I highly recommend a new book called "Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future" by Jeff Goodell. This is part of the wake-up call that we should all be responding to right now.

It's time to change the built environment through greater efficiency and with a major commitment to clean energy. It won't happen overnight, but each of us can responsibly accelerate the process by learning about the issues, making more informed decisions and by voting with our dollars to support companies that provide the products and services we desire. Solar-friendly homes are one part of the solution.

Savvy home buyers are now asking builders for green-built homes that are not just energy efficient, but that are designed and oriented to make the best use of our incredible solar resources. Incredibly, many homes built in sunny Southern Nevada cannot accommodate a solar array due to their orientation or roof shape. Solar-friendly design should be a major selling point for every home built in our area. Green building programs can help.

The most common green building rating system is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org). LEED has had a tremendous impact on commercial construction. LEED for Homes, still in the pilot phase, is already influencing the home construction market. The Las Vegas Regional Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is very active and has a Web site at www.usgbclv.org.

The city of Las Vegas is developing a green building program and the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association expects to roll out its green building initiative sometime this year. Visit www.snhba.com and click on the Green Building Initiative logo to learn more about this program.

Regardless of the specific program or rating system, results are what really matters. Green building will become the industry standard. The goal is healthy, high-performance homes that are easy on the environment (and our utility bills).

In California, communities are being built that include solar power for every home as a standard feature. After factoring in energy savings, such homes can provide a monthly net positive cash flow compared to a traditionally built home with higher utility bills.

For a first-hand experience of energy independent homes and green buildings, check out the upcoming Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour, which will be held Oct. 7.

The day's events will begin at 9 a.m. at The Gardens at the Springs Preserve. Details can be found at www.solarnv.org.

One of the most common questions I hear is, "Why aren't all homes built this way?"

There's no easy answer, but if we learn about green homes, ask developers to build them, and elect leaders who truly support green building and renewable energy policies, it will become a reality. That is a great vision for our very near future -- green living, not just an idea to strive for but something we do quite naturally.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Steve can be reached via email at steve@greendream.biz or at www.greendream.biz.