Garden in the Sky
What could be cooler—literally—than plants growing out of your roof? Saint Louis Green Roof Blocks makes two-by-two-foot preplanted sedum squares for mounting on your rooftop. From evergreens to drought-resistant mixes, they're ideal for cities—and the birds will thank you. Upgrade Cost: $1,500 for a 10-by-10-foot surface Where to Buy: greenroofblocks.com Payoff: Extends roof life by 200 percent, absorbs 60 percent of stormwater, eases the urban heat-island effect, and insulates your house
Stalk Exchange
Bamboo is so last year. Kirei board uses equally earth-friendly sorghum stalks, left over from the harvest in China, that have been washed, woven, and pressed to make this smooth, warp-resistant flooring product. Upgrade Cost: $8 per square foot Where to Buy: kireiusa.com Payoff: Though a little costlier than bamboo, it's equally durable, lighter, and insulates better
Smart Window
Imagine a window that darkens in bright summer sunshine and lightens on cool winter days. Sageglass is an electronically tintable glass whose ions change according to light and heat control. The electronically activated material can be operated with a wall switch, remote, or automated
system. Upgrade Cost: Velux America venting skylights, $1,630 (21 1/2" by
27 3/8") to $3,455 (44 3/4" by 46 1/2") Where to Buy: veluxusa.com Payoff: Saves 40 percent on energy bills, eliminates the need for shades or awnings, and blocks nearly 100 percent of UV radiation
Soak It In
Solar hot-water systems used to be big, clunky, and unreliable, but today's
models actually work—in all climates. Thermomax's evacuated-tube systems employ a heat pipe in a vacuum chamber to practically eliminate convective heat loss. Heating water with solar energy is one of the best things you can do for the environment and one of the smartest investments. Upgrade Cost: From $6,000 (installed) for a family of four Where to Buy: thermomax.com Payoff: $300 in energy savings per year
It's in the Can
You probably never thought about capturing the energy of a toilet flush, but the Japanese have. Toto's new EcoPower flush valves feature flush-powered mini-turbines. The energy produced powers the mechanism for the next automatic flush. When you're away, a lithium manganese dioxide battery serves as a backup so your sensor remains charged for your return. Also see: Toto's hydropower faucet. Upgrade Cost: From $593 Where to Buy: totousa.com Payoff: Hands-free operation, and uses 32 percent less water
