Going green with solar appliances and bamboo shades

The Boston Globe recently reported that the oil spill in the Gulf Coast has triggered a growth in environmental concern that has had homeowners reconsidering the way that their property uses energy.

One such individual is Reverend William Konicki. Although he had previously driven a Toyota Prius, recycled religiously and grew his own vegetables, he was spurred to further action by this recent environmental disaster.

Last month, Konicki installed rooftop panels on top of his home and signed an 18-year contract with a California company that maintains the equipment.

Our country's dependence on fossil fuels "is bad for everyone, from the individual consumer to the planet we live on," he told the news source.

According to the news source, President Obama recently signed a $1.85 billion loan that is geared to help in the construction of solar powered plants across the country, Washington has already dedicated $150 million in stimulus money for people who want to upgrade their energy sources.

Homeowners who want to start on their path to use renewable resources may want to consider woven bamboo shades. These beautiful window treatments are environmentally-friendly, since bamboo grows very quickly and doesn't require pesticides or chemicals at any point in its life cycle.