Not all paints are equal. Some are "greener" than others because they have a lower impact on the environment and your family's health. Just keep in mind that though there are commercial paints that claim a zero VOC content, it may not be possible. Read those labels and certifications carefully.

Making cement creates carbon dioxide, a lot of it. If you are planning to renovate your house or add on to it, consider using concrete mixes or pre-fabricated concrete modules that use less traditional cement or lower carbon cement. These products are also innovative in the way they add recycled paper and glass to create unusual and unique textures and coloring.

Even though they are considered dinosaurs in the modern lighting world, incandescent bulbs and the warm light they create still have a wide appeal. So how can we reconcile energy-gulping incandescents with a greener home?

Inexpensive storage units, shelves, desks and other home furnishings are often made from particleboard or compressed wood. While economical and versatile, particleboard isn't very green. Enter Way Basics - A modular system that uses individual boards called zBoards to custom-build everything from a storage cubby to a bed frame.