How To: Green your Home in Style

Going Green doesn't mean sacrificing style or comfort. Here are four ways you can make your home more sustainable and stylish.

1. Install a Programmable or Smart Thermostat

It’s a device that regulates your home’s temperature according to settings you create for certain times of the day. The bonus of installing a programmable thermostat is that it’s friendly to your wallet; with it, you’ll save on heating and cooling costs.  Check out the Nest Learning Thermostat  that automatically adapts to the seasons and to your preferences.

2. Explore Solar Energy

Photovoltaic devices and materials, which can convert sunlight into electricity, are becoming increasingly available for residential use. Solar power can be harnessed to create electricity for your home, to heat water and to improve indoor lighting.  Tesla and SolarCity’s Solar Roof is beautiful and affordable.

3.  Select Eco-Friendly Building Materials & Finishes

Buying eco-friendly products can be tricky. Generally, you want be on th elookout for products made frolm natural, renewable materials and products with recycled content. An example of this is recycled glass tile.

4.  Choose sustainable landscaping for your home

Sustainable landscape design for residential properties includes environmentally-friendly materials, plants that benefit the local ecology and a design with a renewable lifestyle in mind. Natural rocks and stones are perfect additions to sustainable landscaping. Choosing a variety of plants is also part of sustainable landscaping.

Photos courtesy of Security Baron, Tesla, Jetsongreen, Pinterest