Contract With a Conscience

Buying one of these homes won?t save the planet, but it probably won?t hurt it, either.

79 Market Street, Lawrence

773 Concord Avenue, Unit 404, Cambridge

99 Winchester Street, Unit 2, Brookline

$299,999
79 MARKET STREET, LAWRENCE
SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,500
LOT SIZE 6,050 square feet
BEDROOMS 2
BATHS 2 full, 1 half
2008 TAXES $3,003 (estimated)
LAST SOLD FOR First time on market

PROS Built to achieve LEED Platinum standards, this single-family combines eco-friendliness - low-VOC paints increase the health factor and ultra-efficient systems lower utility costs - with great design. The floors are mostly wood salvaged from a 130-year-old mill, and the white IKEA kitchen cabinets and butcher-block countertop are formaldehyde-free. Sliders in the living room provide yard access, and extra-large windows bring in light. There's a bright office on the third floor, and finishing the basement could add square feet. CONS There's a railroad track close by. Contact Sven Amirian, Boston Green Realty, Boston, 978-360-4063, bostongreenrealty.com.

$524,000
773 CONCORD AVENUE, UNIT 404, CAMBRIDGE
SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,427
CONDO FEE $261
BEDROOMS 2
BATHS 2 full
2008 TAXES $3,856 (estimated)
LAST SOLD FOR First time on market

PROS The Fresh Pond Greenway building was developed in partnership with Energy- Star and is 30 percent better insulated than required by state code. This penthouse unit has state-of-the-art ventilation, sustainable bamboo floors, dual-flush toilets, and a single tank for both heat and hot water, increasing efficiency. It's near public transportation and a bike path, and the space itself is gorgeous, particularly the main living area, where a living room with Juliet balcony is open to a bay-style dining area. CONS Looking down, the view is of a parking lot. Contact Amy Tighe, LEED AP, Coldwell Banker, Cambridge, 617-851-2260, coldwellbanker-cambridge.com.

$1,395,000
99 WINCHESTER STREET, UNIT 2, BROOKLINE
SQUARE FOOTAGE 1,866
CONDO FEE $537
BEDROOMS 3
BATHS 2 full, 1 half
2008 TAXES $15,345 (estimated)
LAST SOLD FOR First time on market

PROS Seamlessly integrated into the neighborhood and grafted onto the back of a green-renovated Queen Anne Victorian, this LEED-certified building contains two underground parking spaces for each of its five units. Its green chops include geothermal HVAC, cellulose insulation, low-VOC adhesives and paints, and bamboo floors throughout. Expect a comfy living room with gas fireplace that opens to a large dining area and a well-designed kitchen with white Crown Point cabinets, matte granite countertops, and stainless Thermador appliances. A covered deck overlooks the garden area of the neighboring senior center. CONS The guest bedrooms are on the small side. Contact Lesley Palmiter, Historic Homes, Newton Centre, 617-275-6240, historichomesboston.com.