Illustration of two people taking the roof off a house and watering it with a plant growing

USA Today: Make Your House More Green

Building an eco-friendly house that doesn’t cost a fortune is something architect Allison Ewing knows a lot about. She and husband Christopher Hays run Hays & Ewing Design Studio in Charlottesville, Va. They created several sustainable houses for low-income residents through the non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity, which provides affordable housing to families in need. And because these homes are designed with efficiency in mind, utility bills are much lower, making them economical, too.

We asked Ewing to share practical, budget-friendly ways to improve your home’s efficiency and carbon footprint.