Today, you don’t have to look hard to find lots of references to “green” building materials. From garage doors made from recycled PVC to shingles that contain recycled materials, there are myriad building products that appeal to this country’s greener side.

Well, the fact of the matter is, most of the “green” building material bit is hype. The products are often much more expensive than the nonorganic stuff, and most people aren’t willing to put up with 300 percent cost increases.

That’s probably a relief to most of the gearheads in the world, because we aren’t known for being the most environmentally friendly sots in the world. But listen up, Mr. or Ms. Burning-Gas-Is-My-Favorite-Hobby: you can use green building tactics to your advantage.

A building that is energy efficient will save you heating dollars down the road and save a whale or two by minimizing how much energy your home uses. Spend a little more on windows and doors that seal tightly and insulate well. This is particularly important with garage doors in heated garages. An uninsulated garage door lets a significant volume of heat escape and will add to your heating costs significantly.

In addition, long-lasting, maintenance-free products will minimize the waste generated by your home. Cheap siding, for example, will most likely end up in a landfill 10 years down the road when you replace it because it’s falling apart. The same is true for low-quality shingles.

If you spend a lot of time in your garage and need to heat it full-time, consider in-floor heating. This system is very efficient and cost-effective, particularly when compared to the gas heaters that hang from your ceiling. The gas heaters are great if you warm up the garage for a few weekends each winter, but they are horribly inefficient when used on an extended, regular basis.

A living space that uses water efficiently and has high-quality air is also considered a “green building.” A water-saving toilet is one garage-builder option. Air quality is a bit tougher, particularly if you are prone to spending your evenings in the garage revving your big-block Chevy to the moon (Note from our lawyers: FOR GOD’S SAKE, DON’T DO THIS).

Check with your local government agency to see if there are any benefits to building green. Several states have programs that offer tax credits, special mortgage rates, and improved utility and insurance rates for approved green builders.

Another way you can be sensibly green is to recycle all the old materials that come out of your garage. If you tear down an old garage, consider donating the doors, windows, siding, and lumber to a re-use center. You can also post that you have material to give away at Web sites such as Craigslist and Freecycle, and people may just show up and haul the old stuff away for you.