10 Things Every Eco-Home Should Have Make your home green, energy efficient and comfortable with these simple guiding principles. 1. Plenty of Daylight South-facing windows provide natural daylight, and the sun's rays help keep rooms warmer in winter. If you want more light, add insulated windows to the home's south side. Shading windows in summer protects against overheating.

2. Air Circulation
Indoor air quality is an essential component of any healthy home. To keep your air clean, choose cleaning products without toxic chemicals and paints and wood finishes that are natural and contain few or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Use a whole-house, integrated air-filtration system with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Use only low-toxic adhesives and plastic-free grout when installing tile. Make sure the kitchen range hood vents outside (not into attics or eaves).

3. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Light bulbs get a big workout. If you can do just one thing to be more energy efficient, replace old incandescents with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). Installing one CFL saves $15 annually, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute, a nonprofit energy research group. Multiply that by the number of lamps and fixtures in your home, and watch the savings add up. Some people also prefer light emitting diodes (LEDs), which can be more expensive but use very little energy.

4. Energy-Conserving Building Envelope
Most houses leak air. Holes and gaps in the wall, roof, foundation, doors and windows allow air loss, which results in winter heat loss and summer heat gain. Tight construction, good insulation and high-performance windows are key. Weather stripping and caulking in existing homes can reduce your energy bill 10 to 25 percent.  Learn more about caulking and sealing windows.

5. Indoor-Outdoor Connection
Doors that open onto an inviting patio can extend your living space to the outdoors. During summer, create shade with a retractable awning, an umbrella or trees.  Extending your living space lets you enjoy our precious summer months in Manitoba even more!

6. Water Conservation
Low-flow plumbing fixtures keep money from going down the drain and save substantial amounts of water. Low-flow toilets only use 1.6 gallons of water per flush (older models average 5 gpf); low-flow showerheads use 2.5 gallons per minute or less (conventional models use 5 to 8 gpm); and low-flow faucet aerators cut water usage to as low as 1 gallon per minute.

7. Sustainable Landscaping
Friendly to the animal world and soothing and relaxing for us sustainable landscaping utilizes native and drought-resistant plants that require less water and maintenance. Organic gardening, which uses natural fertilizers and pest-control techniques and eschews harsh chemicals, is friendly to both the earth and people.

8. Energy-Efficient Appliances
Buying energy- and water-saving appliances helps you save money on the electric bill and help the environment. An ENERGY STAR refrigerator will use up to 50 per cent less energy than the average 10 year-old refrigerator. Check out Energy Star labels on kitchen, laundry and bath appliances and fixtures.

9. Renewable Energy
Solar, wind, water and geothermal are all renewable forms of energy. Also take a look at solar water heaters, which can pay for themselves quickly by reducing energy bills.

10. Location, Location, Location
Living close to shopping, recreation and your workplace reduces your car dependence. When looking at a new location, be sure to consider public transportation routes and active transportation.

^{With information from Natural Home Magazine, July/August 2007 issue and Manitoba Hydro Power Smart www.hydro.mb.ca}