With over $400 billion in federal grant assistance for green building projects available, it’s no surprise blueprints are getting a little ‘greener’ these days.

If you’re interested in considering a green building grant, the majority of federal grants that apply to green construction are offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the categories of Energy, Environmental Quality and Health. Grant opportunities can be found and applied for online at grants.gov, the central clearing house for all federal grants.

Of the billions in federal grant funds available, many ‘green grant’ opportunities can be found in state, local and private foundations. Environmental concerns and the problems caused by neglect are often local. Becoming aware of your local environmental impact areas is the best way to determine if funds intended to address these problems may relate to your project. Foundations offering green grants can be found online at foundationcenter.org.

Most importantly, talk to the people you know. This type of grassroots networking is the key to finding a green grant appropriate for your building project. Take the time to explore every option available to you on both the local and federal level. Keep your mind open to opportunities that could give you ideas on the best way to work a little extra green into your building project and help you save a little ‘green’ too.