Perhaps no decade has witnessed more rapid technological advancements than the opening decade of the 21st century. At the turn of the century, cellular phones had still yet to catch on universally, and few households had high-definition televisions. Ten years later, cell phones are soprevalent even many school-aged children have them, and rare is the household that has not embraced HDTV.

And technology has advanced in other areas as well. Among the more notable advancements is the increase in eco-friendly technologies. Homeowners hoping to make their homes more environmentally friendly have a host of options at their beck and call that enable them to do just that. No matter which area of the home needs to be addressed, chances are homeowners can find ways to improve their homes in an eco-friendly way.

CarpetingCost-conscious homeowners often love how eco-friendly carpeting options are typically lower in price. Recyclable carpets require few, if any, toxic materials to manufacture. What’s more, homeowners who enjoy changing their home’s decor from time to time will find eco-friendly carpet tiles are easy to install and subsequently replace when the itch to change a home’s interior arises.

Building MaterialsWhen building a dream home, homeowners also have a host of green building materials at their disposals. Be it mold-resistant drywall made from recycled paper or eco-friendly siding options, homeowners building their dream home or adding on to an existing home can choose eco-friendly building materials for both the interior and exterior of their homes.

FlooringAn increasing percentage of homeowners prefer wood flooring over carpeting. Fortunately, there are several eco-friendly flooring options that use recycled and reliable wood from old buildings. In addition, homeowners can choose eco-friendly options like cork, rubber or even bamboo for their home’s flooring.

But eco-friendly flooring is not necessarily limited to wood flooring. Recyclable linoleum flooring is also available, and these new products are typically far less toxic than the linoleum floors of yesteryear.

Home OfficeWorking from home has steadily grown in popularity as technology has made it easier for employees to get their work done without having to head into the office. For homeowners who want to add a home office to their homes, it’s easy to make that home office environmentally friendly.

Lighting fixtures are often a primary concern when designing a home office, in which men and women want to mirror the well-lit environment they’re accustomed to at traditional office buildings.To illuminate the room in an effective and eco-friendly way, individuals can install LED lighting fixtures. Such fixtures have a long life expectancy and use far less energy than their incandescent counterparts.

Another way to go green at the home office without spending much money is to make room for some plants in the office. Plants will absorb toxins in the air and also improve the indoor air qual ity,which many office workers cite as a problem in traditional offices that don’t place too great an emphasis on indoor air quality.

When going green, it’s easy to assume technology will be detrimental to the environment. However,advancements in eco-friendly technology have made it easier for homeowners to build their dream homes in eco-friendly ways.

When building or repairing a home, homeowners can choose from a host of eco-friendly building materials that are good for the environment and often good for a homeowner’s bottom line.

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CITIZEN’S NEWS Friday, March 25, 201114

Friday, March 25, 2011 CITIZEN’S NEWS 15