More than likely you have already considered “going green.” Deciding to make your home a more people friendly and environmentally friendly place is most definitely a wise decision and one that can improve your health too.

Let’s take a look at five great ways that you can incorporate eco-friendly design into your home.

Eco-Friendly Paint

People commonly just paint their homes with little regard as to what is actually in the paint itself. However, this approach can, in fact, have health consequences. The unfortunate fact is that most paint has toxic components and chemicals. One of the leading areas of indoor pollution is, in fact, paint fumes. Traditional paint often releases toxic gas or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air. When you are looking to paint, look for paints that are low-VOC.

These paints may be a little bit more expensive, but you will find that much of the “paint smell” that you so often associate with painting is simply gone. Your reward for your extra work will be cleaner air.

Consider a Hemp or Clothe Shower Curtain

Often shower curtains are made from plastics that are toxic. These shower curtains are made from chemicals that you would definitely want to avoid if you saw their names on paper. Hemp shower curtains are extremely tough, durable and naturally highly resistant to mildew. A hemp shower curtain marks an extremely easy way for you to go green, as this safe product is also quite eco-friendly. As it turns out, hemp requires very little, if any, pesticides to grow and that is good for you and the environment.

Get Crazy for Bamboo

Bamboo is an amazing renewable wood, and you should use it as often as you can. Bamboo is nearly as strong as steel, light yet flexible and grows very, very quickly. What makes bamboo such a green product is its growth speed. Since bamboo grows quicker than other woods, it is eco-friendly by nature. Today, you can find bamboo used in a wide array of home products including flooring and even home furniture such as coffee tables.

Blue Jean Insulation

You might be saying, “what, blue jean insulation?” That’s right blue jean insulation is a really clever idea whose time has come. Many people are turning to this innovative approach to insulation that takes recycled blue jeans and makes home insulation out of them. This method is a very eco-friendly as you are recycling and also using a product that is very safe and easy on the lungs.

A Tankless Water Heater

You might not think of your water heater as an energy hog, but it definitely qualifies. Heating water is an energy intensive procedure, but the tankless water heater bypasses this process. Instead of keeping water heated throughout the day and night, it is simply heated when needed. This will save you money in the long run and help the planet.

These are only five great ideas for going green, but there are certainly many more. The five ideas here we just covered can save you money and make your home a healthier one as well.