Out of a desire both to protect the environment and help the nation become more energy independent, many homeowners are thinking about installing home solar energy systems. Like most other projects on the market, there are several options to choose from when it comes to solar energy, and the wide variety of options can make a final decision difficult. But there are some helpful things to keep in mind that can make choosing the right solar energy system much easier.

First, it is important to consider how much money a solar energy system will actually save a home in the long run. For example, perhaps you find solar panels that will provide electricity and will cost a total of $1,000 to buy and install. Simultaneously, you find solar panels for heating water that cost $2,000 to buy and install. At first glance it might very well seem that the solar electricity panels are the best buy. But if the water panels will save you $400 in utility costs a year versus $100 a year with the electricity panels, it soon becomes clear that the water panels are a better choice since it will take only five years for a return on your investment versus ten years for the solar electricity system.

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Today we are all looking for ways to live with the least impact on the natural world as possible. We are looking for more fuel-efficient vehicles, switching to reusable cloth bags for shopping, and designing homes that are environmentally friendly. It is even possible to take a home built decades ago and make it better for the environment when we are about the business of remodeling with green in mind.

There are countless ways to remodel a home and make it more environmentally friendly. One of the least expensive remodeling projects is a new paint job, and you can make your paint job more “green” by choosing paints with low VOC numbers. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, which are those chemicals that can give off environmentally harmful fumes for years after the painting has been completed. The lower the VOC number, the lower the amount of damaging fumes are released and the lower the damage to the environment.

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You can’t turn on any home improvement channel without being confronted with the topic of going green. It’s not a fad; it’s here to stay. If you’re looking for a way to really increase not only the value of your home, but its beauty as well, consider cork tile flooring.

As flooring takes up an enormous amount of space in every home, it’s an easy way to add a lot of “green.”

4 Advantages of Installing Cork Tile Flooring

• Environmentally Friendly: Did you know that no trees are cut down to make cork tile flooring? It’s true. Only the bark of the tree is removed, leaving the tree intact. The bark grows back within 8-10 years, which means it can be harvested again. So each tree provides a replenishable resource, the very foundation of what being eco-friendly is all about.

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More and more homeowners are looking for ways to become environmentally friendly. As heating and cooling a home present one of the biggest expenses for homeowners, choosing energy efficient options in this area is not only a treat to the environment, it’s one for your pocketbook as well.

If you live in desert-like climates like Arizona, for example, one environmentally friendly home cooling option is the evaporative cooler.

What Is an Evaporative Cooler?

An evaporative cooler differs from traditional cooling systems in that it doesn’t require refrigeration to cool the air. Evaporative coolers cool the air via the evaporation of water.

FYI: You will also hear evaporative coolers referred to as swamp coolers, wet air coolers and desert coolers.

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There are many ways to go green in your home. And the kitchen and bathroom, as the most used rooms in a home, are natural places to start. With this in mind, here we will focus on the bathroom – specifically the toilet.

The Inefficiency of the Average Toilet

According to the book, Greeniology: How to Live Well, Be Breen and Make a Difference, “Nearly one-third of the water we use at home is flushed down the toilet.”

This makes sense when you consider that the average toilet uses 1.6 gallons of water – per flush! If your family is just average size, you can see how this really adds up to a lot of water usage.

Now, let’s consider an environmentally friendly option like a composting toilet.

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Homeowners are going green. This is not only good for the environment; it’s smart because it can increase the value of your home if/when you decide to sell.

One of the easiest ways to go green in the kitchen is to create a kitchen recycling center. It reminds you and your family of the importance of recycling, and makes it easy to do so. Following is a quick and easy way to create a kitchen recycling center.

The Quick and Easy Way to Create a Recycling Center

All you need to create a kitchen recycling center is a space to put recycling bins. This is usually accomplished by modifying lower kitchen cabinets. You can hire a local contractor to do this in as little as one day.

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One of the largest uses of energy in any home comes via the hot water tank. According to home energy experts, the hot water tank accounts for upwards of 25 percent of the energy used in a home. By the time the whole family showers; the dinner dishes are run through the dishwasher; and the family laundry is done – is it any wonder?

There is a cheaper option that is better for the environment – solar energy.

2 Benefits of Using Solar Energy

• Environmentally Friendly: Solar energy causes fewer carbons to be released into the environment. Carbon dioxide is a gas that environmental experts believe is a major cause of global warming. Solar-produced energy produces no carbons, which means a cleaner environment.

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If you’re remodeling your bathroom and are looking for ways to be eco-friendly, an electric shower is one option. Never heard of an electric shower? Following is an overview of the benefits of having one installed in your bathroom.

How Electric Showers Differ from Traditional Showers

In most homes, all the water consumed is heated by one source – a water heater. Electric showers are different in that the water is heated by an electrical device in the shower head. This makes it possible to heat water immediately – and only – upon use.

You can purchase also purchase a shower head with an electrical device that allows you to store various temperature settings. This ensures perfect water temperature with every use.

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With the concern about the environment present from the Oval office to Main Street, green building and interior design is hot right now (and hopefully well into the future). If you’re thinking of remodeling your kitchen, following is one eco-friendly countertop option that is not only good for the environment, but for your sense of style as well.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recycled Glass Countertops

Glass is one of the most accessible – and frequently recycled – elements in existence today. It makes beautiful kitchen countertops (as well as vanity tops, tabletops, bar tops, etc.). Following are some frequently asked questions about this recycled element.

Where does the recycled glass come from that is used to make kitchen countertops?

As glass is used for everything from drinking containers to car windows, it comes from a wide variety of sources. Most manufacturers get their glass from local recycling programs. Other sources include reclaimed glass from construction projects, donated glass from municipal projects, recycled glass from junkyards, etc.

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Many homeowners prefer hardwood flooring. It’s easy to care for, lasts a long time and most of all – it’s gorgeous. However, it’s not the most eco-friendly option. For this reason, bamboo flooring is a better choice.

Why Bamboo Flooring is a Better Option than Wood If You’re an Earth-Conscious Homeowner

• Beauty: You don’t have to sacrifice the beauty of wood when you choose bamboo flooring. Bamboo is technically a grass and it comes in a variety of shades.

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