AN environmental rating tool has placed Queensland at the front of the sustainability race by allowing new home buyers to identify greener homes.

And the Gold Coast and Tweed region - home to three of six premier EnviroDevelopment projects - is leading the way. The EnviroDevelopment certification and branding system provides independent verification a development has achieved leading-edge environmental outcomes across six areas of sustainability.

Providing consumer-friendly symbols for certification in ecosystems, waste, energy, materials, water and community, the system helps buyers identify and select homes with top environmental credentials.

Created by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA), it will motivate homebuyers and developers to invest in environmental sustainability and is the world's first environmental ratings tool for residential developments.

UDIA Gold Coast president Kerrie Young says the system will increase public awareness of the value of sustainable living and increase conversion rates to greener lifestyles.

"There is growing recognition environmental sustainability is the way of the future for many industries, particularly the building and development industry.

"Ultimately, EnviroDevelopment is designed to educate the public about what constitutes an environmentally outstanding development and the value of investing in a sustainable home or workplace," she says.

"By encouraging and growing the market for sustainable development, developers are given that extra push to pursue environmentally friendly outcomes.

"The system acts both as a public awareness tool - providing independently accredited information to the buyer - and an incentive to reward developers delivering environmentally excellent projects," she says.

Coomera Waters, The EcoVillage at Currumbin and Mebbin Springs (northern NSW) were among the first five certified EnviroDevelopments announced last year. A sixth development was launched in Toowoomba last month.

"The EcoVillage at Currumbin was awarded the Environmental Protection Agency's award for sustainability last year and the UDIA National Award for Excellence in sustainable development this year," says Ms Young.

"I believe the local industry is to be commended on its early willingness to embrace sustainability. "