The idea of having an elevator in your home may seem to some like an unnecessary luxury. But for anyone who is unable - for whatever reason - to negotiate a set of stairs, a home elevator system may be exactly what is called for, enabling accessibility to the entire house. Manufacturers of these practical units are also figuring out some innovative ways to "go green" by saving energy and using less oil than previous models.

Residential elevators are remarkably compact, and can be made to fit into just about any home. In cases where there may not be room inside the house for an elevator system, they can be attached to the outside of a home - with, of course, all-indoor entry and exit. They can also be designed to seamlessly match your decor, so your elevator system won't stick out like a sore thumb. If you are building a home on a smaller lot, you should also note that an elevator would allow you to build up rather than out, reducing urban crawl.

The green features of home elevator systems comprise a few different things that may have never crossed your mind, but are nonetheless remarkable in their innovation. For starters, while most lift systems use a lot of hydraulic oil and electricity to operate, there are some that use a unique traction system (which you may previously have seen on such items as conveyor belts) and counterbalance to move the car up and down. With these efficient systems, the cab's motor requires a lot less energy in order to operate, meaning that you may save significantly on energy costs over the use of a traditional model.

These safe and practical systems can also eliminate the need for you to construct or create a machine room in your home, which will help you reduce material and construction costs as well. You can even specifically order green cars that are constructed entirely of recycled or recovered materials, or include environmentally friendly finishes and fixtures. This is another great way to reduce the carbon footprint of your installation.

These units are fully automatic, have a capacity of 1,000 pounds and have lighting that turns on and off automatically, further saving you money on your energy bills. The user panels employ digital displays and are easy for anyone to use. There are even optional features such as two-exit doors that can open from either side.

With all these features, and energy savings to boot, a home elevator may be just the thing you need.