April 17, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 31 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 so prevalent even many school-aged children have them, and rare is the household that has not embraced HDTV. Technology has also advanced in other areas. Among the more notable advancements is the increase in eco-friendly technologies. Homeowners hoping to make their homes more environmentally friendly now have a host of options at their beck and call. No matter which area of the home needs to be addressed, chances are homeowners can find ways to make improvements in an eco-friendly way. Carpeting: Cost-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 the décor from time to time will find ecofriendly carpet tiles are easy to install and replace when the itch to change a home’s interior arises. Building Materials: When building a dream home, homeowners can choose How to build an eco-friendly dream home from a host of green building materials. 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. Flooring: An 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 flooring options like cork, rubber, and bamboo. Eco-friendly flooring is not necessarily limited to wood. Recyclable linoleum flooring is also available, and these new products are typically far less toxic than the linoleum floors of yesteryear. Home Office: Working 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 those who want to add a home office, it is easy to make that office environmentally friendly. Lighting fixtures are often a primary concern when designing a home office. Men and women want to mirror the welllit environment found in traditional office buildings. To illuminate the room in an effective and eco-friendly way, individuals can install LED 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 improve the indoor air quality, which many office workers cite as a problem in traditional offices that do not place 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.