Autumn Home Improvement (Fashionably "Green" - And Earn Federal Tax Credits, Too)

With environmental concerns at an all-time high and an ever-increasing awareness of the planet's dwindling resources, manufacturers have taken note. Hybrid cars, for example, are powered by an internal combustion engine as well as an electric motor, thereby saving on gas consumption. Similarly, eco-friendly products are increasingly available for the home.

And yet, with the weak economy, some home renovation projects might have stalled a little. Fortunately, eco-friendly designs are getting both more fashionable and affordable. Whether blending two power sources or utilizing two different materials, manufacturers are enabling consumers to be more fashionably "green."

So what to do then when your home is in need of a little freshening up in time for the change of seasons? Consider window treatments. Consider fashionably "green" window treatments that address energy concerns - and provide you with a federal tax credit as well.

From now through the end of 2010, you can save on your energy bill, as well as your taxes. Too good to be true? Nope - and here's why. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, federal tax credits are available for 30% of energy-efficient products, for up to a maximum of $1,500 in total. All you need do is purchase federally-qualified window treatments and install them prior to the end of the year.

Hunter Douglas’s Duette Architella Window Shades

One of the more stylish ways to claim this tax credit is by ordering Hunter Douglas's highly-insulating Duette Architella shades. Featuring a honeycomb-with-a-honeycomb construction, Hunter Douglas's Duette Architella shades are the only window shades to quality for the tax credit without add-on insulation systems. Best of all, these shades can more than double the energy efficiency of a window. Translation: lower energy bills, more money for holiday gifts.

Presso Espresso

Want another energy tip? Shift your appliances onto a power strip. Power strips are not just for your computer; use them for your televisions, VCRs, and every other gadget. Why? Get a load of this statistic: more than one billion dollars a year is wasted by leaving your gadgetry plugged into the wall. Plug them into a power strip - and turn them all off with one quick click.

Similarly, you might consider "greening" your morning coffee. The high-quality Presso Espresso is an eco-friendly and recyclable espresso maker by designer Patrick Hunt. A hybrid of simplicity and style, Presso requires zero energy to produce premium quality espresso. Simply add the grounds and water, and then use the handles like a wine bottle opener. Voila: coffee like a barista, without energy costs (to you or the planet).

CB2’s Bamboo Bath Towels

As for the spa or bath, how about using hybrid linens that are a mix of certified organic cotton and other natural ingredients? Easy on the environment and soft to the touch, CB2's Bamboo Bath Towels are made from 65% bamboo and 35% combed Egyptian cotton for a plush, sustainable towel.

Matt & Nat

And if you think you have to sacrifice your inner fashionista to live "green," think again. Even Louis Vuitton, the epitome of luxury and consumer indulgence, has started utilizing vegetable-based solutions rather than toxic dyes in one of their lines.

Even better, the Montreal-based firm Matt & Nat offers cutting-edge merchandise that is as beautiful as it is socially responsible and reasonably priced. Matt & Nat's handbags are also hybrids, using a combination of vegan leather with linings made from recycled plastic bottles. These bags are favorites of sexy vegan Joshua Katcher, Oprah's favorite vegan superstar - and who's going to argue with the O's choices.