There is a common belief that to go green costs more green. While this notion is not necessarily false there isn't as much as a gap between the cost of building (or renovating) green and not building green. The gap was much larger when the green building movement was just getting going but that gap has decreased considerably as the movement has grown and products and supplies have become more mainstream. In addition to this decrease is the money that is saved over time by building, renovating, and adding on green, or just incorporating more green practices into your life.

Kelli B. Grant at Smartmoney.com wrote an article recently on the subject.