questions you NEED to ask yourself

There is nothing more exciting than building your dream home. Imagine a space set up for your exact needs, which functions specifically for your family and your lifestyle. The possibilities are endless when you start to dream. Advances in technology have helped create more energy efficient homes with a smaller carbon footprint. The following are just a few of the most popular green custom home trends for 2012.

How many times have you gone to check your mail, only to find a bill from the electric company for a ridiculously high amount? If you’re anything like me, it’s happened far too many times.

If the environment is important to you, you probably realize how harmful these large power companies can be to the environment. Some are nuclear power plants, others burn coal for power… they have many methods to produce power but almost every single one of them has negative side effects on mother Earth.

If you pay attention to the news, you’ve probably heard a lot of different things about solar energy over the past few years. Even if you don’t watch the news, you’ve still probably heard something about it at one time or another.

Solar power has a number of benefits, both for our planet and for our finances. Take a look into the options you have available to you for going solar and the benefits of each route.

Many of us have wondered at one time or another if there was some sort of renewable energy we could utilize at home to help cut costs from our electric provider. You hear about things like solar panels all the time on television and the radio, but have you ever REALLY considered using solar panels at home? Probably not.

Going green is all the rage nowadays. Are you ready to make the change? Here are a few reasons why you might want to think about living a greener and more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

In addition to being a great way to reduce your dependency on public utilities and fossil fuel based electrical sources, many are discovering that there are many other benefits to using solar energy to power your home or business. Because you are receiving your electricity from the sun, you do not have to worry about the same pollutants and other damaging side effects associated with fossil fuel based energy sources. Although some homeowners attempt to perform the entire solar panel installation themselves, you can greatly benefit from hiring qualified solar installers to install solar panels for you.

One thing that can be especially harmful to the Earth, animals, plant life and human beings is water pollution. If a water source becomes contaminated, it can devastate entire ecosystems. Becoming more educated on water pollution facts can help prevent this destruction.

California is one of the most heavily populated regions in the United States, and requires a tremendous amount of water. Unfortunately, most of California is arid, with little in the way of local water resources. Los Angeles and the farms of the Inland Empire are sustained with water that is imported, whether it is from distant snow packs or the Colorado River.

Today, people are more environmentally conscious than ever. They make sure that what they eat, drive, and even build is all sustainable and friendly to the environment. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the biggest green trends happening in the home improvement industry.

As an eco-minded homeowner, you may find yourself feeling a bit concerned about using a traditional salt-based water softener in your home. After all, there are several potential problems associated with traditional water softeners that can leave a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, if you are looking for a more environmentally safe option, you might want to consider installing a salt-free water conditioner in your home. To that end, here is a look at how salt-free water systems are eco-friendly.