According to SBIC, the book was written by builders for builders and includes illustrations, case studies, and rules of thumb. The guidelines aim to provide information for those interested in producing energy- and resource-efficient homes.

The six chapters in the book cover such topics as community and site planning, energy, efficient water use, indoor environmental quality, materials, and operations and maintenance. More specific topics include energy-saving sites and orientation, resource-efficient and green building materials, construction waste management, energy- efficiency strategies for the envelope, hvac equipment, and more.