A Dec. 18 letter-writer made several good points, asserting that there is nothing "green" about the million-dollar-plus homes sprouting up all over the Triangle. I agree that it would be swell if folks who can afford these homes would buy more modest homes and contribute the balance to charitable causes; many of them do already.

But there is a big difference between a green million-dollar home and a mainstream million-dollar home. The green home (either Green Building Initiative certified or N.C. Healthy Built House certified) will be built to more stringent energy standards. It will be set on its site more carefully, with engineered stormwater management. The volatile organic compound content of its plywood, paints and carpeting will comply with stringent standards both for improved indoor air quality and for reduction of ozone depletion and global warming. It will use less water and create less wastewater. It will be more durable, more comfortable, healthier and more economical to operate.

Building green mansions may seem wrongheaded, but it sure beats building mansions that aren't green. We humans might have been given dominion over this planet, but with it came a responsibility to be good stewards. If customers want big, high-quality houses, the least we as builders can do is to consider good stewardship to be a cornerstone of high quality.

Michael Chandler

Mebane