The appeal of modern design's spare lines and forms has combined with the desire to reduce, reuse and recycle. The result is high-end, streamlined furniture and accessories for the home.
While your home, like most in America, will likely rely on fossil fuels for heat for years to come, it's still possible to have a "greener" winter.
What does it mean to be 'green'? What, exactly, is a "carbon footprint"? What's going on in your neighborhood to help the environment? We'll answer those questions and more in this newly established online section.
Want to go green but don't know where to start? Daniel J. Lawse, who heads up the Green Neighborhood Council of the Green Omaha Coalition, has some ideas for beginners and those striving for a deeper shade of green.
This may have been the ultimate in recycling: Reviving a run-down, 105-year-old house.I had no lofty "green" goal when I purchased and renovated the house next door in Little Italy, south of Omaha's Old Market. I just wanted to make sure the property looked neat and tidy.
Also:
Cleaning products for a healthy home
Sweeten your home by minimizing allergens
Young people are learning about environmental issues in school, at home and on the Internet. They're making personal changes, taking action to green up or clean up the places around them and sharing their interest with others - other youth, even ol' Mom and Dad.
Also:
Our world, from the eyes of a 4-year-old
For Michaella and Dan Wittman of Omaha, less is more. They are proving to be minimal consumers in readying the nursery for their firstborn child.
Also:
Purees, cereals: yum, yum
Finding products made from recycled materials is a scavenger hunt. A garage sale or flea market often can provide the basic materials for the do-it-yourselfer. For those who aren't as crafty, look for artists making good use of recycled materials.
A number of eco-conscious organizations are trying to educate homeowners about ways to battle weeds and nourish grass without polluting the environment with pesticides, fertilizers and gas fumes from the lawn mower.
Also:
Lawn maintenance tips
Put away the rake
Monica Erickson, 26, and Alex Myers, 27, exchanged marriage vows in August at Spring Creek Prairie southwest of Lincoln. A green wedding, the bride said, was "essential to our lifestyles and philosophies."