Nobody wants their house to look like an abandoned old shack. Most people want to have a home that not only looks beautiful but also feels comfortable.
And that is why many people go through thorough home renovations to keep the look and feel of their house up to par.
If you are one of those people looking to renovate their house, it is crucial that you not only do it in style but also in an environmentally friendly way.
Contrary to popular belief, there are many methods to make your home renovations eco-friendly. In this way, you can make your house look aesthetically pleasing while also having minimal impact.
So, how exactly is a home renovated in an environmentally friendly way? Stay tuned to find out!
1- Recycled Glass
Nowadays, you’ll find a lot of hardware and DIY stores that sell bio-glass. The added benefit of bio-glass is that its look is entirely similar to newer windows while being 100% environmentally friendly. ; They can look fantastic anywhere, from the bedroom to kitchen windows.
2- Use Discarded Metal or Salvaged wood
You can also try to incorporate and use salvaged wood along with discarded metal for your renovation.
Such recyclable materials will help you create a lesser impact on the environment. For example:
- By using salvaged wood, there’ll be no need to cut down existing trees for more wood.
- Furthermore, no fossil fuels will be consumed as there will be no need for machinery nor trucks.
Other than that, there also isn’t a need to worry about damage nor rust. Most of the recycled material out there holds durability along with beauty too. A perfect example of this can be old barnwood. Along with its eco-friendly nature, old barnwood (as long as it has not rotted away) can also be used for many projects.
It looks perfect in remodeling with applications such as rustic barnwood beamsand picture frames.
3- Bamboo Flooring
How does using bamboo differentiate from wood? For starters, bamboo is highly durable. Not only that, but it also grows back faster than wood, is moisture resistant, and takes fewer pesticides in its growing stage.
Throughout the world, bamboo is abundant. They can be harvested without damaging the root of the tree. This property makes bamboo an environmentally friendly option.
In simpler terms, as long as bamboo is harvested without damaging its foundations, the tree quickly grows all over again.
4- Reface Rather Than Replace
Giving a whole new makeover and look to your house doesn’t exactly mean wasting or destroying previous materials. You can continue with your older furniture by just adding a little distinctive quality.
For example, you can repaint your existing cabinet with a newer color. Such small and straightforward steps can revamp your house and give it its particular characteristic (which won’t come from a retail showroom).
6- Go Solar
The sun isn’t only powerful but also has abundant renewable energy. It would be a waste not to utilize such abundance to your advantage. You can collect enough power from the sun to power your house throughout the night! The best part is, you can use this energy as recklessly as you want without feeling guilty one bit.
Even if we keep aside the fact that you’ll help the environment by opting for solar, the drop in your electric bills is hard to resist temptation in itself too.
Furthermore, the tools required to utilize solar energy are cost-efficient as well. Nowadays, you can build a solar or wind power system for as little as $200. A small investment considering the amount of money it’ll save you in the future.
7- Energy Efficient Appliances
If your home renovation plan includes replacing your electrical appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators, etc., then try to focus on those that help the environment and conserve energy.
Investing a bit and buying energy-efficient appliances is a solid way to renovate your home while saving money in the future.
8- Opt for VOC-free or low-VOC paint
VOC is a short term for Volatile Organic Compounds. These compounds produce harmful molecules that can lead you and your household to incur long term health effects.
In fact, using VOC free products at home like VOC-free paint will generally help you to breathe a lot fresher and easier at home.
Eco-Friendly Renovation — Epilogue
Renovating your home while staying environmentally friendly isn’t really difficult if you just follow a few helpful tips. A healthy environment is a necessity we should strive to preserve, and it is these small steps that come around and combine to cause a greater effect.
