As part of its series of special holiday episodes, designers from the ABC reality television program, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," collaborated with architects and builders to create an energy-efficient home for a family in Bastrop County, Texas.

Mizzy Zdroj, an unpaid volunteer firefighter whose home was destroyed by wildfires that affected more than 34,000 acres in Central Texas, selflessly helped battle the flames in spite of losing all of her belongings – including her art studio and her farm.

Upon hearing about this inspiring story, the crew from "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" came together, along with some outside help, to build a new home for Zdroj – but not just any home. According to a press release, the 2,400-square-foot house includes solar energy panels, tankless water heating, low-flow toilets, LED lighting and more. Now, not only does she have a brand new place to live, but she'll save money on monthly utility bills.

"We designed the home based on what we knew about their story and their personal tastes," said Houston-based architect Donovan Davis, who helped build Zdroj's new property. "The goal with this home was to have a lot of innovative products in it but nothing over-the-top. From a design standpoint, we wanted to create a home that had plenty of sustainable and green features so that they could easily maintain and afford it."

Fortunately, you don't need to get on an Emmy award-winning television show in order to adopt a more energy-efficient lifestyle. A home inspection contractor can come to your home and help you determine realistic steps you can take to make your house more environmentally-friendly and cost-effective.