Great Reasons And Ways To Green Your Home (NAPSA)—Whether or not global warming is one of your top concerns, some of the latest reasons for greening your home may inspire you to design with more eco-friendly materials in mind. With more than 85 percent of Rent.com survey respondents pre- ferring to live in an eco-friendly space, green design is conscien- tious, economical and: Stylish: Green doesn’t have to meanboring. “Whether in traditional, contemporary or transitional spaces, green design reflects not only practicality and versatility, but beauty in its materials, making it the perfect choice for today’s interiors,” said Candice Olson, host of HGTV’s “Divine Design” and “Candice Tells All.” In the search for sustainable materials, more homeowners are choosing materials such as cork. The natural, reusable and recyclable material is durable, warm, resilient, insulating, hypoallergenic and comfortable. It also offers an eco-chic design aesthetic. “Cork flooring is the ultimate choice for style-savvy consumers because of its exquisite design possibilities, durability, reliability and eco-friendly features,” said Olson. “Using user-friendly websites like www.realcorkfloors.com can make choosing the right design fun and frustration-free.” Cork flooring can be used in living rooms, kitchens, family or entertainment rooms, bedrooms and basements. It’s 100 percent renewable, since harvesting the outer bark of the cork oak tree never results in a single tree Attractive and eco friendly, cork flooring comes in an array of designer-inspired styles and col- ors that create stunning yet durable floor surfaces. being cut down. According to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF), cork oak forests support one of the highest levels of biodiversity amongforest habitats. Helps to preserve our heritage: Why buy new furniture when you can buy history? According to Nigel Worboys of Antiques Are Green, buying antiques reduces landfill, carbon emissions and consumption of new goods from abroad, while helping to preserve our heritage for future generations. Can save you money:Lots of it, in fact. The federal Energy Star tax credit for 2011 is 30 percentof the cost—up to $1,500—for the following items: biomass stoves, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning (HVAC), roofs (metal and asphalt), water heaters (nonsolar), windows anddoors.
