Eco-friendly home improvements and renovations will reduce your home heating and cooling costs, will make your home healthy, and will decrease your environmental footprint.
Here are some eco-friendly home renovation tips to consider for your next home renovation project:
- Hire a professional contractor who's experienced with environmentally friendly renovations.
- Use recycled eco-friendly materials that contain post consumer content for floors, countertops, window treatments, and furniture where possible.
- Consider buying previously used materials and appliances that are still in good condition before buying new for your renovation projects.
- Use sustainably harvested wood products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
- Reduce toxins by choosing low or non-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints, furniture, and carpets. VOC’s are known to cause health issues such as dizziness, headaches, and nausea.
- Be creative by repurposing old furniture pieces instead of throwing them away where possible.
- Consider solar water heating and solar power generating options where possible.
- Add skylights, a sunroom, and more windows where possible to cut the need for artificial lighting in the daytime and to save on electricity usage.
- Consider recyclable roofing materials for your home such as aluminum; which is durable, fire resistant, and absorbs less heat than traditional asphalt roof shingles.
- Consider bamboo, linoleum, reclaimed wood, or cork when you are updating your flooring.
- Instal high efficiency WaterSense certified low-flush toilets, and low-flow showerheads and faucets when renovating your bathroom; to reduce your water and energy usage.
- Install countertops made from recycled glass in your kitchen and bathroom. Products made from recycled glass are easy to clean, scratch resistant, and heat resistant.
- Reface or repaint your kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them if possible.
- Use low VOC sealers when refinishing your kitchen cabinets.
- Select formaldehyde-free kitchen cabinets for your kitchen renovation if you have to replace your kitchen cabinets.
- Select energy efficient Energy Star certified appliances if you are replacing your old kitchen appliances.
- Install backsplashes made of recycled content such as glass in your kitchen and bathroom.
- Choose ceramic tile made of recycled glass for your bathroom and kitchen. It's a good option that is durable and easy to maintain.
- Consider wiring your home so that lights can be individually controlled. This will allow you to light specific areas of your home when needed and reduce your energy consumption.
- Plant a rooftop garden to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and to create a great outdoor space for relaxing.
- Design an eco-friendly garden that is suitable for your local climate by planting shrubs, trees, and plants that are native to your region. Native plants will need less maintenance and will look beautiful at the same time.
- Donate or sell any unwanted building materials and appliances after the completion of your renovation project, instead of sending them to the landfill.
A well-planned eco-friendly home renovation will decrease your carbon footprint, will reduce your energy consumption, will increase your home’s energy efficiency, and will boost the value of your home.
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