Whether you’re building a house from scratch or looking to increase the energy efficiency of your home, there are a number of things you can do to make your home more sustainable and green, both to lower your energy costs and help protect the environment by reducing water usage and other precious natural resources.

Here are five ways to be green when you build or remodel your home.

5. Turn off the lights
4. Install high-efficiency heating and cooling systems
3. Choose high-efficiency windows and appliances
2. Select low water consumption fixtures
1. Use fluorescent bulbs

For details on each of these items, visit buildingsafetyweek.org.

The International Code Council, a membership association dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops the codes used to construct residential and commercial buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities, counties and states choose the International Codes, building safety codes developed by the International Code Council.