The use of natural elements in home remodeling and energy-efficient products are more than a passing fling. Homeowners are looking at protecting their investment and the environment at the same time.  And while some so-called “green” lighting and flooring products can warm up the atmosphere of  your home, they can help you save money on your annual energy bills.

A great example is Toolbarn’s recommendation to replace existing light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. The energy efficient bulbs can use as much as 75 percent less electricity, lowering your costs nearly $60 over the seven-year life of the bulb. You can also cut your power costs by installing motion detector bulbs indoor and outdoors. You don’t have to leave the lights burning all night on your patio to scare off burglars.

Looking at Green Homes
Contractors are now offering so-called green homes in special subdivisions. That means you can borrow their ideas and retrofit your home with devices to lower your bills. A new home in Northern California’s “Carsten Crossings” neighborhood offers $1,400 in annual energy savings, according to developers.  Flooring products and sustainable paint materials feature materials that don’t release volatile organic compounds.

Today eco-sensitive homeowners are choosing natural fibers like wool or sisal for their rugs, linoleum in place of vinyl, recycled wood, cork, and bamboo for flooring.  HGTV has a nice pictorial presentation of green flooring products on its site.  Bamboo is known throughout Asia for its durability and easy maintenance.  Like bamboo, cork can be expensive to install, but it is also easy to clean with homemade water and vinegar solution. Both products lend a nice look and are efficient in baffling noise.

HGTV also recommends using recycled wood and reclaimed glass flooring products.  Recycled tiles are bright and you can choose colors that complement your decor.  You can even find ecological carpet flooring constructed out of recycled plastic bottles and corn sugar.

Don’t Forget Green Appliances
Green Home Guide authors recommend that you install “smart ceiling fans” during your home remodeling project. Fans that cost under $70 with retrofit materials that cost under $40 can curb your heating and cooling costs.  What makes these fans “smart” are the sensors that detect when people leave the room, shutting down the fan until occupants return. By using a fan, you can easily raise the thermostat on your air conditioning by 5 degrees or, conversely, drop your furnace temperature by 5 degrees in the winter.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to change the way you live.

It’s Halloween today and for most, it means one of day of celebrating ghoulish, fall weather fun.

But, if you like darker palettes not just on Halloween, but all year round, here are some great ways to use a lack of color for amazing effect.

When using darker colors, lighting plays an important role. Notice how well the bright natural light plays against the darker interiors:

I love all the dark wood floors. These types of wood floors can be created with a coat of dark varnish color. It gives a classic aged, antique look:

Obviously this look isn’t for everyone, and honestly, while it has rays of elegance, I prefer much more vibrant color palettes, like in these previous posts:

Interior Painting with Neutral Colors
Pick a Color, Any Color
Bright and Bold Paint Palettes

All photos from Remodelista

What’s not to love about natural wood?  From flooring, siding and paneling, wood is a great addition to any home. Lots of us love the look of natural wood, and besides that, its durable and pretty easy to maintain.  Despite its classy look and great wear, there’s always something that makes me feel just a little bit guilty about it.  Maybe one too many viewings of Fern Gully as a child could be to blame, but to this day I just feel a little bit bad.  Lucky for me however, there are a lot of beautiful ways to enjoy natural wood without the guilt. 

Photo Credit: Sunset Magazine

Recycled wood products have always been around, but they’re making more and more of a comeback for stylistic as well as ecological reasons.  The short version? You can have your cake and eat it too.  Companies in the recycled wood industry go about their business in a couple different ways, some wood is reclaimed from construction sites, others salvaged from demolitions.  Its used wood getting a new lease on life: now that’s something I can get behind, and the rainforest might not mind either. 

Check out more on Recycled and Reclaimed Wood