Everyone wants to save money, and we all want to reduce the impact of our lifestyles on the environment.  Making your home more energy efficient will save costs now and be a great plus come time to sell.

From the roof to the foundation, a number of innovative building practices often go into constructing today's greenest homes.

Roof shingles for example, are now available in recycled materials. Environmentally friendly spray foam insulation, which can help prevent dampness, keep out pollutants and contribute to structural strength, is even partially made with recycled materials.

Roofs, walls and floors can be insulated as well with special structural panels that consist of two layers of board with insulating foam in between them. The forms that are used to mould a home's poured concrete foundation can now also be found with insulating ability, and barriers that prevent dampness from rising into the foundation can be used at this stage of construction as well. Even exterior cladding is now insulated to offer greater energy efficiency.

If you prefer an older home though, there are many simple ways to make it more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Start with an Energy Star programmable thermostat that will save on heating and cooling costs when you're not home. You can take this approach a step further by investing in a new high efficiency furnace or air conditioner. Adding insulation to the attic of your home will offer reduced energy costs for years to come as well.

A tank-less water heater will also save on energy costs by providing only the amount of heated water that you need rather than maintaining it in a cylinder.

Even making minor changes can have an impact, like choosing energy efficient light bulbs - Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are good and Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) are even better.  Replacing your traditional light bulbs with CFLs or LEDs is another simple way to reduce costs.  Some homeowners are even turning to solar lighting, in which a panel that is installed on your roof feeds energy through a tube into the house.

If you're planning to make cosmetic changes to your home you can do your part for the environment by choosing wood flooring, and even carpet, made with recycled content. Look for low VOC paints and stains as well, which reduce the number of unstable, carbon-containing compounds that enter the air and react with other elements.

In the bathroom, you can keep more money in your pocket by installing low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets.

Replacing old windows with low-E argon-filled units that have the Energy Star symbol can make a dramatic difference to your home's energy efficiency as well.

Changing your old appliances with new Energy Star machines is also a great way to reduce energy consumption while enhancing the overall appeal of your home.

Beyond enjoying the aesthetics, cost savings and fulfillment associated with helping the environment, you can also consider getting an energy audit to take full advantage of a number of government rebates for energy-saving home improvements. There are many cost-saving programs and rebates on everything from low-flow faucets and toilets to air conditioners and full-scale environmental audits.

Nothing can substitute for good-old fashioned conservation. Remember that the energy you save today may well be the energy that is needed tomorrow.  Small steps like plugging electronics into a power bar that can be switched off when not in use will reduce the phantom load and your electricity bill. In the future, watch for rooms wired with a single "all-off" switch to serve the same purpose.

Rooftop solar panels can also be used for hot water and many swimming pool owners have discovered this innovative alternative. Tankless water heaters are another smart solution. They heat only the water you need instead of continuously warming an enormous cylinder.

Heating is a key factor in your home's energy efficiency. Today's high-efficiency gas furnaces are less expensive than their predecessors and one of the best investments you can make. For a nominal fee you can also have infrared photos taken of your house to show where heating and cooling losses are occurring. The power of a simple tube of caulking cannot be emphasized enough.

Other creative options include hanging insulating drapes on north and east exposures and keeping the blinds closed on south and west windows during summer. Even landscaping can make a difference. Deciduous trees should be planted on the south and west sides of your property to keep it cool in summer and well-lit in winter, while coniferous trees planted along north and east lines can serve as a wind barrier.

Call me to inquire about environmental fix-ups you wish to pursue. In future, this will add to the value of your property.