Even if the spaces we have been living in for many years are full of memories, sometimes we need to breathe new life into them, and renovation is the best solution.
If you’re planning a home remodel, you probably know that there are a lot of choices and decisions to make.
The renovation process is, without any doubt, overwhelming, and it can be even more challenging if you want to get the best results and reduce the environmental impact simultaneously.
But there’s no time to get discouraged. You can make your house look expensive and still be an environmentally-friendly one if you take some time to do proper research.
We want to make your job easier, so here are various eco-friendly ways to renovate your home:
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Deconstruct Rather Than Demolish
One of the best ways to have less impact on the environment when running a renovation project is deconstructing. Although many people tend to demolish, which is closely related to material waste, you might be the one who makes a difference by choosing to deconstruct rather than destroy.
So, our advice would be to carefully analyze and walk around your house before knocking down walls or tearing off the roof. We guarantee that there’s a lot of material you can re-use or salvage, from flooring and kitchen cabinets to bricks and tiles. The same is with light fixtures.
We understand that you probably want to replace your chandelier in your dining room, but throwing it away is not the best option. Consider using it in another room – think about how elegant it would look in the bathroom. This way, you reduce both costs and waste.
Avoid Toxic Chemicals
Toxic substances make their way to your home, whether you acknowledge it or not. Maybe you cannot completely remove them from your house, but you can reduce their use.
One of the best ways to do that is by opting for chemical-free products when remodeling. You can start with the paint used for your cabinets or any other item that needs to be repainted. Opt for low- or no-VOC (volatile organic chemicals) paints because they are eco-friendly and don’t cause health problems.
Remember that chemicals like VOCs evaporate into the atmosphere, causing air pollution and respiratory illnesses or headaches. Finding eco-friendly paint shouldn’t be a problem, at least not anymore, because plenty of suppliers nowadays sell natural paint.
Other toxic substances found in construction materials include halogenated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, asbestos, mercury, and the list goes on.
With so many chemicals on the labels of building materials, it’s normal to be confused and don’t know which is toxic and which is not.
Therefore, consider seeking the advice of an online chemistry tutor because only a specialist can guide you to make the best choices.
Choose Energy-efficient Appliances
When giving your kitchen a makeover and planning to replace the old appliances with modern ones, focus on energy-efficient ones.
It is particularly important when planning to replace major appliances like refrigerators, ovens, air conditioners, and dishwashers because many generate a lot of energy.
Finding energy-saving appliances shouldn’t cause you problems because these kinds of electricals have the energy star logo on them. Consider also LED lighting instead of incandescent bulbs because these can help you save money and energy.
Given that LEDs require less power, they’re considered a more sustainable source of artificial lighting.
Don’t forget to recycle your old appliances and not simply toss them. If they’re still functional, you can donate them or organize a garage sale.
Reface Rather Than Replace
Sometimes it’s way better to reface an item than actually replace it. For example, when renovating your kitchen, choose to paint your cabinets if they’re still in good condition.
This way, you save money and make your kitchen look new. You can do the environment a huge favor and adopt a brand-new look simultaneously without much effort and cost.
Now that you’ve found out what toxic chemicals to avoid when choosing your paint, there’s no time to lose. Go and transform that dull-looking kitchen into an eye-catching one.
Buy Reclaimed
You might be tempted to buy state-of-the-art materials when remodeling your home. Still, new is not always the best solution, especially if you want to be more environmentally friendly.
You can use reclaimed materials to give your house a retro look that will turn heads. For example, if your flooring needs to be refreshed, you don’t have to purchase a new one. Opt instead for reclaimed or renewable wood that will give your home a rustic look in a trice.
Cork is a viable option if you plan an eco-friendly remodel because it can be harvested from the same tree and doesn’t require underfloor heating since it has excellent thermal.
The same is with furniture. You can save trees by choosing kitchen cabinets from salvage shops that often sell items in more than good condition. Also, don’t be afraid to visit antique shops and salvage yards because you can find articles that cannot be found in another place.
Besides, just because others give up on some things doesn’t mean that they’re no longer functional or don’t suit your preferences. You can give your home a unique look with some vintage light fixtures of doorknobs. Remember that your home personality is in the details.
Think About Eco-friendly Exteriors
You can also opt for eco-friendly exteriors, such as a green roof to attain environmental sustainability. The concept of green roofing is not exactly new on the market, but it’s not so well-known.
A green room means just what its name suggests – a roof covered in vegetation. And if you’re wondering what its benefits are, learn that they’re not few.
Green roofs are an excellent choice for protecting your actual roof membrane, can survive amongst other installations, and create a mini microclimate that is nothing but necessary due to the amount of oxygen released.
Recycle
You can make a huge difference by choosing to recycle rather than waste. We all know that a remodel usually implies a lot of materials that are to be thrown away.
Think about recycling them instead – wood, for example, can be used for another purpose without losing its value.
You can also recycle the rainwater. There are multiple purposes you can use the water that comes in the form of rainfall, including watering plants and lavatories.
That being said, we hope you find our insights into eco-friendly solutions for your home redo useful and think more seriously about changing your habits in terms of renovation.
