Eco-friendly homes have been slowly gaining popularity for decades. From food to cleaning supplies to clothing, everyone is more conscious of their carbon footprint on the Earth. Did you know that for 2021 the trend will be to combine eco-friendly living with the do-it-yourself attitude? Net-zero buildings and homes are starting to pop up all over the country, and eco-friendly home design is the hottest and most sustainable trend we can all get behind.

Natural Gas Stoves

One may think that natural gas stovetops are only for chefs, but they are actually a solid eco-friendly home design choice. A natural gas stove uses less energy than its electric counterpart because natural gas heats faster and more efficiently. It is also cheaper for households, saving hundreds of dollars a year for most. Gas stoves also tend to last 5 or more years longer than electric ones. Stoves with unreliable coils, unpredictable heating, and unresponsive areas are all signs that your unit needs replacing — and January is a great time to buy.

Bamboo Flooring

Wood floors are a timeless classic when it comes to home improvements, and bamboo floors are gaining popularity as an eco-friendly upgrade. Bamboo is a sustainable material because of the rate at which it grows — in just a few years it is ready for harvest, as opposed to traditional hardwood which takes decades to reach maturity. It also requires less water and less oxygen to produce. Surprisingly, the benefits don't stop there: bamboo floors are also cheaper than the average pine or walnut counterpart.

Living Wall

A living wall is a beautiful way to brighten a home. Consisting of plants — whether purely decorative or edible — these walls offer excellent air quality improvements. Many homes can benefit from low-maintenance living walls, and for the craftier family, they can also be a low-cost build.

Eco-friendly design trends are different in one very distinguishable way: even if the style fades, the benefits do not. When you invest in these home improvements, you are doing it for the betterment of the environment as well as your wallet. Keep checking back to the Kratos Gas & Power blog for plenty of home improvement tips!