Home renovations are your opportunity to make your home more you. You may add a plant room to appease your green thumb, or you may paint the nursery for the new baby. Whatever your renovation idea, make choices that are good for both you and the environment. To make the most of your redesigns, take a look at these simple eco-friendly ways to renovate your home.
Choose VOC-Free Paints
One of the best things you can do for your home doesn’t take much effort. Simply choosing a VOC-free paint over traditional paint ensures better air quality in your home. There are a few important things to know about low-VOC paints, but the most important thing to recognize is that without it, you’re subjecting yourself and the environment to harsh chemicals.
Go Solar
If you’re already updating your roofing and siding, add some solar panels while you’re at it. The sun is outrageously powerful and an amazing renewable source of energy. When you harness solar energy, you give your home electricity to last you through the night. Solar panels save money on electricity bills and help the environment. They’re an investment, but they can make a huge impact in the long run.
Deconstruct, Don’t Demolish
As much as you might want a blank slate to work with, you run the risk of spending way too much money and hurting the environment if you choose a complete demolition. Before you tear down the walls, see what materials you can salvage and reuse rather than spend money on new materials. Try to really follow the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Focus on Energy-Efficiency
If you really care about eco-friendliness, then you need to focus on energy-efficiency throughout the redesign. For the kitchen or the laundry room, you should be looking at energy-efficient appliances. Large appliances generate a ton of electricity, but when you choose a product with an EnergyStar logo, you’ll reduce your monthly bills as well as help the planet.
Visit Salvage Yards and Antique Shops
Just because you’re renovating doesn’t mean every little item has to be brand-new. You should strive to find reusable pieces for your home—places such as antique shops, salvage yards, and consignment shops are great places to find fixtures, unique furniture pieces, and more. Repurposed items have a lovely ability to add charm and warmth to your home that you’ll often miss with new items.
