Using WaterSense faucets and duel-flush toilets, as well as reusing graywater, are some ways you can reduce the water usage in your home and otherwise live “greener”. Source: Houzz

When planning your bathroom design, one thing you should consider is the amount of water you use. Not only do you want to reduce water usage in order to save money on your water bills, you’ll want to do so to reduce your environmental footprint as well. The following are a few water conservation tips to consider when planning your bathroom design:

• Install WaterSense faucets – Faucets that are approved by WaterSense label will reduce the flow of water by up to 30 percent without sacrificing any performance. This can end up saving you roughly 500 gallons of water every year. Go the extra step by adding an aerator to decrease the water flow while increasing the water pressure.
• Install a dual-flush toilet – Toilets consume a ton of water. Dual-flush toilets boast two flushers, one for liquid waste, which uses less than one gallon of water, and one for solid waste.
• Use graywater – Install a graywater system in which used sink water is filtered and disinfected before being reused for toilet flushing.

These are a few ways you can reduce your bathroom water use. For more water conservation tips, be sure to contact us at Trilogy Partners.

Here are some tips for anyone who’s interested in going green. Source: morgueFile

You’ve probably heard about the phrase “going green” on more than a few occasions. While the concept is noble – going green refers to reducing your environmental footprint – the phrase itself has become something of a buzzword. The following are a few tips about going green that you should be aware of:

• Do your research – Don’t just buy into a product or service because they advertise it as being “green.” This word can be very misleading. For example, one product may be more eco-friendly than another, but that doesn’t make it eco-friendly in itself.
• Think about the future – In addition to how green the product or service is in the present, consider its future. Can it be reused or recycled? How long will it last? These are factors of being green as well.
• Is it local? – Materials that aren’t locally produced aren’t going to be very green because of what’s required to transport them to you. Look for products that use local materials to cut down on fuel use.

These are a few things to keep in mind when going green. For more tips about going green, be sure to contact us at Trilogy Partners today.

Some tips for creating a green home include installing awnings and insulation, and using high quality materials that will last longer. Source: Houzz

Striving to create a greener home environment is a great way to reduce not only your environmental footprint but to also reduce your monthly utility costs, thereby helping you save a lot of money in the long run. The following are a few tips for creating a green home environment:

• Install awnings – Strategically placed awnings can help you reduce the amount of energy you need to use. For example, during the summer awnings will help block out the sun’s heat, while in the winter the sunlight will hit your home at a steeper angle, which means low-angled light will be let in to heat your home.
• Add insulation – If you’ve added energy efficient windows, then the last thing you want is for heat to escape around the sides. Use fill-in foam insulation to help reduce the amount of heat that will escape around your windows.
• Use high quality materials – Not only should you use reclaimed materials, you should use materials that last so that you don’t have to waste money and materials replacing them.

These are just a few tips for creating a green home environment. Contact us at Trilogy Partners for more green home design advice.

Eco-friendly bathroom can be constructed from a variety of recycled materials, including rubber, copper, and aluminum. Source: Houzz

Are you trying to build a bathroom that’s a bit more environmentally friendly? If so, then don’t ignore what your sinks are made out of. The following are a few examples of eco-friendly bathroom sinks that you can use as inspiration:

• Salvaged bowls – Re-use any type of bowl. All you need is a bowl in which a hole can be drilled on the bottom to connect it to a drain. For example, an old cast-metal basin.
• Recycled rubber – For a truly unique option, use a sink that has been built out of recycled rubber tires that were melted and purified before being turned into a sheet that can be stretched across a basic frame.
• Recycled copper – Copper is a great choice for a bathroom sink due to its antibacterial and antifungal qualities. Just make sure to pick a sink made out of recycled copper.
• Recycled aluminum – If you’re going for a modern bathroom design, then recycled aluminum is a fantastic option. Not to mention that there is plenty of aluminum available to be recycled into a sink.

These are a few eco-friendly bathroom sinks. Contact us at Trilogy Partners for more green building information.

Concrete, pebble tile, and linoleum are three eco-friendly bathroom floor materials that we recommend for your home. Source: Houzz

Deciding on what type of flooring to use for your bathroom is no easy task. Not only do you want to make sure it is suitable for the bathroom environment, you’ll also want to ensure that it’s aesthetically pleasing as well as environmentally friendly. The following are a few eco-friendly bathroom floors we recommend:

• Concrete – You can add recycled aggregates to a concrete floor, including porcelain, coal fly ash or glass.  Concrete is also a strong material that holds up well in wet environments and is very flexible in terms of visual design.
• Pebble tile – Give your bathroom a spa-like vibe by using pebble tiles that will gently massage your feet when you walk across them. Instead of using stone, use a recycled glass version.
• Linoleum – Linoleum is naturally antimicrobial, which means it will resist both mold and mildew, perfect for the bathroom space. It’s also water-resistant and durable. Just make sure to get linoleum that’s labeled no-VOC.

We highly recommend that you consider one of these options when looking for eco-friendly bathroom floors. For more information about implementing environmentally friendly features into your home design, make sure that you contact us at Trilogy Builds today.

The R-House and TED House are two examples of homes with successfully implemented home energy saving ideas. Source: Houzz

When designing a new home, one of the things you’ll want to consider is energy efficiency. The less energy your home uses, the lower your energy bills will be – not to mention the fact that you’ll be reducing your environmental footprint as well. The following are a few designs that can provide you with some home energy saving ideas:

• The R-House – Located in Germany, this home was built to meet Germany’s passive house principles. It boasts highly insulated windows, heat-recovery ventilators and super-insulated exteriors. In fact, the home’s insulation consists of blown0in fiberglass insulation as well as foam insulation. Windows were placed to take advantage of the sun’s location.
• The TED House – This house makes use of highly insulated windows, a zip-panel air barrier, EPS insulation and closed-cell spray foam insulation. It also has a metal panel rain screen that helps keep air trapped inside the home and prevents outdoor air from leaking in.

These are a couple of homes designed to be energy efficient. Consider some of their energy saving features for your home design and be sure to contact us at Trilogy Builds for more information about implementing green features into your home today.

Interior designers often strive to bring the unique splendor that is Colorado into homes with natural interior themes and décor pieces. Source: Houzz

We live in such a beautiful area! Interior designers often strive to bring the unique splendor that is Colorado into homes with natural interior themes and décor pieces. You can, too. We share nature-inspired decorating whenever possible, and our friends at Houzz.com always have great ideas:

• Natural textiles are a good way to add eco-friendly fabrics and feel to your natural interior. You can also introduce botanical-inspired (tree branches, leaves, birds…) fabrics into any room.
• As you walk our wooded trails, save your wintry finds, like cattails, wildflowers, discarded birds’ nests and feathers. Dying flowers can become pressed-flower art pieces, and interesting rocks or woods will accessorize your tables.
• Old bottles and jars can be receptacles for outdoor treasures you find on your morning walk.
• In the spring and summer, turn your unused fireplace into a creative plant- and flower-focal point for your room. Have fun! One client artfully arranged weeds in a Waterford vase for a lovely, natural presentation.

The professionals at Trilogy Partners use a team approach for exceptional home design, construction and décor, and you’re a very important part of our team. We welcome your ideas! Please contact us to share suggestions or call 970-453-2230 for information.

Here are a few tips for making your laundry room both cleaner and greener. Source: Houzz

If you’re looking for ways to reduce your environmental footprint as well as save a little money on your utility bills, then consider making your laundry room both cleaner and greener. The following are a few tips for a green designed laundry room:

• Use an energy efficient washing machine – Upgrade your old washing machine with a new model that’s been approved by Energy Star. An Energy Star rated washing machine uses half as much water as well as 30 percent less energy than non-rated washing machines.
• Use a drying rack – Instead of drying clothing in your drying machine, hang them up on a drying rack to cut down on the energy you would have to use otherwise.
• Use cold water – Instead of washing your clothes on hot water settings, use cold water. Around 90 percent of the energy used in a washing machine is to heat up the water and cold water will work just as effectively.
• Only wash full loads – Save on water and energy by only using your washing machine when you have a full load.

Use these laundry room tips and be sure to contact us at Trilogy Builds for more green tips.

Here are some holiday lighting tips to help you make your holiday decor resplendent! Source: Houzz

Everybody knows that great lighting is a part of any display that you have inside and outside of your home during the holiday season. However, actually achieving a great lighting scheme isn’t as easy as putting up some colorful bulbs and hoping for the best. This year, use these holiday lighting tips from Trilogy to make your home the best looking one on the block.

• Make sure your pathway is well lit. Even a cement pathway lined with shrubs or flowers can use decorative white lights to improve visibility and give your walkway a little bit more holiday spirit.
• Light wreaths and other decorative items that you put on your front door or on the porch. Canister lights designed for outside work well, as do rows of decorative bulbs on strings, as long as they’re bright enough.
• Hang your LED lights in strategic rows to give an abstract design while keeping your home festive. If you’re feeling really creative, you can even use lights to spell out holiday-related greetings on your roof, front porch or even your garage door. Just take your time and don’t rush!

Contact Trilogy for more information and holiday lighting tips you can use this season.

The following are a few tips to help brighten up your winter landscaping.

The landscaping is an important part of your curb appeal, no matter what time of the year it is. This means that you shouldn’t ignore your landscape even if it’s winter just because you think that the snow might render your efforts useless. The following are a few tips to help brighten up your winter landscaping:

• Install a firepit – Warm up that cold yard by building a small firepit. This is a great way to make the outdoor area attractive to friends and family no matter what the temperature is.
• Add color – Winters tend to be a little drab in the color department, so why not add color to the landscape? Paint your fence and front gate a bold blue to help give your landscape some life.
• Add lighting – What better way to brighten up your yard than by adding some outdoor lighting? Use up lights at the base of some of your trees and bushes to highlight them at night.

These are just a few ideas for sprucing up your landscape design during the winter months. For additional landscaping ideas as well as home design ideas in general, contact us at Trilogy Builds today.