Lots of progress at the house today.  We will start in the kitchen, where the bamboo floor was installed. It is mostly covered by cardboard for protection, so these pictures do not really do it justice.  (We chose bamboo because it is a fast-growing plant -- actually a grass -- so it is renewable. And, we liked the look better than traditional hardwood.)

Throughout the house, the electricians were busy installing light fixtures.  Our final count is 56 light fixtures, of which 50 are Energy Star qualified.  (Of the 6 that aren't, 2 are the backyard security lights on a motion detector, and 4 are on interior dimmer switches.)  Except for the LED cans described in a previous post, these Energy Star fixtures have compact fluorescent bulbs.

Outside, today they poured the driveway, front walk, and steps leading up to the front porch.

In the coming days, we expect continued installation of the bamboo floor (throughout the lower level hallway and powder room), installation of cabinetry, and measurement for countertops in the kitchen. I will also be meeting with our landscape architect to make final decisions on some green-built features that we want to integrate into the landscape.