Why not? It
can be done:
Green building -- creating structures with less impact on the planet -- is the hottest new topic in the real-estate industry. . . .
Sure, a big part of the boom in green building comes from concerns about global warming. An equally powerful motivation, however, is economics. Green buildings may cost a bit more to build (though costs are coming down fast as the movement gains traction), but they save an enormous amount in operating costs.
I saw Lovins and his house (the guy from the article and the video) featured in a Nova episode,
Saved by the Sun. The short clip from the article really doesn't do his place justice.