Building or renovating a home with green products is becoming more main stream with more options and improving costs. Consider using glass and concrete around the home.

Countertops made of recycled glass and concrete can be a thing of the future. Recycled glass is glass that is saved from the landfill and when it needs to be changed in the future, it can by recycled again.

It can be used for backsplashes, shower walls, tabletops, flooring and even outdoor pavers. You have multiple choices for finishes as well; gloss, honed or sandblasted for slip resistance.

It qualifies for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification because it is made from recycled materials and is VOC (volatile organinc compounds) free.

If building a new home, polished concrete floors avoid trips to the landfill with old carpets and tile. Because of the thermal properties of concrete, cooling and heating energy needs are reduced. Indoor air quality becomes more improved without carpet and the need for glues and adhesives.

The need for harsh detergents and cleaning liquids is diminished with concrete floors - all you need is water and a mop. Ambient lighting is in abundance with polished concrete floors so you save more money on the electricity bill.

Source: Article by Maggie Calloway in the column "Smart Choices for our Future"