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From office buildings to schools to new homes, there has been an emphasis on "green," or eco-friendly, building over the past several years.

And, inspired by Gov. Deval Patrick's recent mandate for the state to increase its efforts in this regard with commercial building, one local developer has taken the practice into the renovation of older homes.

Gregory Horenian of Mavorix Enterprises says he originally planned to renovate and live in the 100-year-old Colonial at 855 Old South Main St. in Attleboro. Instead, he has the eco-friendly home on the market for $399,500, and already has another green renovation project in the works.

"While watching the gubernatorial debate, I heard Deval Patrick talk about alternative renewable energy as a focus to help Massachusetts economy," Horenian said. "When Deval spoke of building for the future and renewable energy, it was inspiring.

"Most of the contractors that estimated the rehab were talking about quick fixes and scare tactics that the cost of building a house that I wanted would be double. I started researching products and practices associated with green building and found it shouldn't cost as much as I was quoted." After several months of research and convincing contractors to work with newer, more energy-efficient materials, Horenian has completed his renovation project and is already planning another eco-friendly renovation on a 100-year-old multi-family home in the city.

Rosemary Kelleher, who recently became the sixth real estate agent in the state to earn the EcoBroker Certified Designation, said Horenian's efforts go beyond just mere renovations.

"There are very few builders and developers that are doing what Greg Horenian is doing by trying to work with the land and work with materials that are eco-friendly," she said.

At 855 Old South Main St., Horenian said his overall goals were to "create a house that is maintenance-free, energy-efficient and product-conscious without skimping on the overall feel and usefulness of the home."

Kitchen designers Jon Chabot and Bonnie Johnson from Kitchen Views, part of National Lumber in Mansfield, said they were proud to be involved in a project that was both environmentally friendly and ascetically appealing.

"As neighbors, it's nice to see the improvement to the area, and as designers it's particularly appealing to be able to do so while using products that are green," Chabot said.

Horenian said some of the contractors he brought in were at first skeptical about using some of the green materials, such as the plastic piping, but later changed their tune.

He said he is anxious to do it all again.

"Remembering the process brought back fond memories of working on the project, meeting tradesmen who take pride in their work, and knowing now that I want to continue rehabbing homes with a green thumb," Horenian said.

The following are some of the eco-friendly products used in the renovating of 855 Old South Main St., Attleboro, along with their advantages: E Aura interior paint by Benjamin Moore. Contains low Volatile Organic Compound and is washable and safe for disposal.

E Bamboo flooring. A more renewable resource than traditional woods used for flooring, as bamboo matures into marketable size in three to five years, when the hollow bamboo stems can be made into laminated boards.

E Kitchen cabinets. Made by Master Brand Cabinets Inc., which has been certified in the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association Environmental Stewardship Program.

E CaesarStone Quartz countertops. Come with a 10-year warranty and are resistant to stains, scratches, mold, mildew, chips, cracks, heat, chemicals, acids and solvents, and is immune to freezing and thawing.

E Programmable thermostats. Can automatically store and repeat settings daily, including setback of temperatures when occupants are sleeping, with allowance for manual override.

E HardiePlank Lap Siding. Guaranteed for 50 years, with a separate 15-year warranty on the color, and is fireproof, bug-proof, resistant to temperature changes, and paintable.

E New Anderson 200 Series Windows and Therma Tru doors. Meet stringent Energy Star ratings.

E PEX plastic water piping. Corrosion and freeze resistant, more cost-effective and easier to install than copper piping, energy-efficient by minimizing heat transmission and reducing wait time for water to travel to faucet, and environmentally sound, containing no volatile organic compounds.

E Low-flow toilets. Use a maximum of 1.6 gallons of water per flush compared with about 3.5 gallons of water used by a standard toilet.

E Low-flow shower heads. Use about 2 1/2 gallons of water per minute compared to between four and five gallons per minute used by conventional heads.

E Low-flow faucet aerators. Can cut the water usage of faucets by as much as 40 percent from four gallons per minute to 2 1/2 gallons per minute.

E Oakridge PRO 30 AR Shadow Roof Shingles. Guaranteed for 30 years and can withstand hurricane-force winds up to 110 mph and carry a UL Class A fire rating. Also specially treated to resist roof discoloration due to algae growth, and carry a separate 10-year algae-resistance warranty.