Top Ten Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Trends for 2000-2010

Home improvement has become progressively eco-friendly as home owners seek low cost changes to their lifestyle to support their interest in the economy. Some of these eco-friendly home improvement trends are new, or have added new aspects to old eco-friendly home improvement trends. No matter your budget, some of these trends can easily be added to your lifestyle to reduce your impact on the environment. Find out where to find more information about eco-friendly offerings on the web and meet these new Associated Content green writers: John Ehle, Trisha Newton, Francis Jock, Joshua Jarrott, Thomas H. Forthe, Peter Ruble, Kevin Hagen, Timothy Croy, Eric Loveday, Diane Tegarden, David Fuchs, Ashley Woods, Charlotte Walters, Tamara L. Waters, Bret DesGrollier, plus articles by old-timers Lyn Lomasi, JE Davidson, and C. Jeanne Heida.

#1 Technology Companies Stepped up to the Eco-Friendly Challenge

Many technology companies started offering buyback programs for recycling print cartridges and used equipment. Other companies started offering technology products that used solar power or were built on recycled materials. And there are practical uses for your old equipment.

For more information read:

9 Old Computer Uses: Don't Throw Old Tech Away, Reuse It!

How and Where to Recycle Electronics

#2 Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Trends Pushed Easy and Attractive Home Recycling

Recycling is big business these days with home owners requested to recycle yard waste, food waste, plastics, glass, metal, hazardous waste. Some companies started offering traditionally hard to recycle products like mattresses, pillows and paint in recyclable form. Additionally, serving containers and carrying bags turned to reusable or edible.

For more information read:

Recycled Decor: Green Home Fix-Ups

How to Reduce Packaging Waste when Ordering Fast Food

How to Hide Your Ugly Recycle Bins with a Decorative Fence

#3 Recycled Landscaping Offered Alternatives for Toxic Products in 2000-2010

This is the decade where treated wood was taken off the market and replaced with products built from recycled materials like plastics or less toxic wood products. Additionally, concrete and building materials were put into recycling programs and home owners urged to use recycled masonry, plastics and glass in their landscaping or as artworks.

Read: How to Reuse Junk Items in Your Garden and Landscape

#4 Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Trends Added Comparable Priced Home Cleaning Products

Many eco-friendly cleaning products were added into the home maintenance market and many surfaces in bathrooms and kitchens were built to clean easier without bleach and harsh cleaning products. Easy home improvements to reduce energy use also found their way into the market.

Read award winning article: Four Easy Green Eco-Friendly Household Projects Help Dry Naturally

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Household Cleaners for 2009

#5 Digital Photographs and Green Lighting Offered Many Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Opportunities in 2000-2010

LED lighting including for Christmas lights, night lights, and space lights, as well as reduced wattage florescent lighting that fit existing lighting outlets meant everyone could go green with ease. The arrival of digital photographs meant a reduction of photograph paper and chemicals and reduced storage. Your favorite loved ones can now appear as a slide show in one frame.

Specifics:

Digital Picture Frames-The Many Benefits

Guide to Choosing the Best Energy Saving Lighting Bulb and Fixture

Eco-Friendly Indoor Lighting: Best Available Options

#6 2000-2010 Meant Energy Saving Appliances as Eco-Friendly Home Improvements

From tank less water heaters to energy star rated stoves and many equipment that went into sleep mode when not in use, there were many energy offerings that helped reduce energy use in 2000-2010. Additionally, 2000-2010 offered timers on items like watering systems, lights, etc. that helped reduce energy use.

For more information read:

Review of the Vent-Miser Programmable Energy Saving Vent

Energy Saving Appliances

Choosing a Tankless, Energy Efficient Electric Water Heater

#7 Green Roofing Offered Unique Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Ideas

Green roofing is as old as society but practical ways for implementing green roofs on dog houses, garden sheds, as well as homes meant age old techniques came back into popularity. Add 3M's new product offering of solar power generation roof tiles and the future is looking more green. Green roofing also meant many people started growing container gardens on their balconies and city roofs.

For more information read:

What's the Best Way to Make Your Roof Environmentally Friendly?

Green Roofing Systems - Going Green with Your Roof?

#8 Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Trends Helped Reduce Water Use

From almost tough to flush toilets to faucets and shower nozzles that reduced water use, home improvements in 2000-2010 had many offerings for eco-friendly minded home owners. Other ideas include using rain barrels to water landscaping, a return to native plants for gardens and tying into utility offered grey waste water in the yard.

For more information read:

Saving Water and Money by Converting Your Old Toilet to a Low Flow Toilet

How to Reduce Your Water Bill Using Grey Water Systems

How to Capture Water in a Rain Barrel for a Free Water Supply

#9 2000-2010 Meant Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Trends Turned to Natural Pesticide Use

After the disaster of DDT and the removal of Dursban and Diazonon off the market, home owners and gardeners may have eagerly turned to the numerous natural pesticide products.

Read for more ideas:

Natural Aphid Pesticides: 10 Eco-Friendly Ways to Repel Aphids

#10 Solar Power Continues as an Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Trend

Solar power has been around, but increasing use of solar power has meant that yard lighting, landscape and pool toys and tools don't need the power grid to run.

For more information:

Alternative Energy, Wind and Solar Power in the Home

Information on Solar Power Water Heating

Also :

83 Pieces of Eco-Friendly Home Decor is one of the best see and tell articles about eco-friendly home improvement items I've read.