Bamboo woven wood shades can help green a home

EcoHome magazine, a publication that promotes the awareness and implementation of eco-friendly home design, recently awarded the Grand Award to a Cape Cod house designed by ZeroEnergy Design, a company which strives to produce green residences.

This vacation home is located on the beach and overlooks Cape Cod Bay from 115 feet above sea level. The 1.7 acre yard is landscaped in a natural fashion and the home uses almost no energy due to innovative interior features.

Some of these designs include a geothermal heating and cooling system and photovoltaic panels that produce almost as much energy as the house uses each year. These panels are solar electric, which means that they silently collect energy from the sun and emit zero pollution, and are usually installed on the roof, according to ToolBase.org.

"We are thrilled to receive the Grand Award, and have our work singled out as an example of design excellence and sustainability," Stephanie Horowitz of ZeroEnergy Design said in a statement.

Homeowners looking to incorporate a sustainable design in their own home may want to consider investing in bamboo woven wood shades. These beautiful and natural window treatments are made from bamboo, which is a fast-growing material that requires no pesticides or other chemicals in cultivation.