If you got tired of looking at the same old home for years and decided to renovate, you might want to think about doing it in an eco-friendly fashion. More and more homeowners out there decide to go green when starting any home renovation project. This is the case because we now have to be more conscious than ever about our impact on the environment.
If you choose to take part in this, you might want to check out our list of 5 eco-friendly ways you can renovate your home.
Shop reclaimed
When renovating, you don’t always have to go for newest and shiniest materials. There are many other great options - such as reclaimed wood - that aren’t only environmentally-conscious, but tend to look amazing as well. In fact, reclaimed wood, in particular, has been gaining a lot of attention during the last couple of years and more and more people decide to introduce it into their homes. Even some famous certified kitchen designers started using reclaimed wood for their kitchen hoods. Of course, if you opt for a reclaimed material, you’ll be saving time, money and energy needed for producing something brand new.
Think about insulation
Your renovating project is a perfect opportunity for you to add more insulation to your home. If you do this, you’ll ensure that not too much warm air escapes from your home during winter which means you’ll be using less energy on heating. There are quite a few insulation materials you might want to consider using. Fiberglass and polystyrene are some of the cheapest materials out there while cellulose and polyurethane are something you’ll have to pay top dollar for. You should be able to install insulation yourself, but it’s always a good idea to bring in an expert as well.
Embrace natural light
The more natural light you let inside of your home, the more you’ll be able to save on your electricity as well. Of course, not only that relying less on artificial light is going to help you save money but it’s also going to help you reduce your carbon footprint. Not to mention that with more natural light, your home will be warmer during cold months. Therefore, since you’re already renovating, you might want to think about introducing a few extra windows into your home. We recommend double-glazing your windows since this has become quite a trend among modern homeowners.
Go for epoxy floor coating
You’ve probably heard that big companies that care about the environment use industrial epoxy paint in their facilities. Epoxy floor coatings are very environmentally-friendly and they’re absolutely perfect for homes as well. Firstly, it’s important to mention that by installing an epoxy floor you’ll increase light reflectivity and reduce the number of lighting solutions in your home. On top of that, epoxy floors are much easier to clean and maintain, which means you’ll be using less and in some cases even no chemicals at all. And since a lot of household cleaning supplies are toxic this is definitely a big plus.
Install solar panels
Another great thing you can do when going green is install solar panels. Even though these might seem expensive at first, but in the long-term solar panels can help you save a lot of money. We recommend turning to experts who can help you figure out how many of these you’ll need and how to position them. Today, there are even solar batteries that can help you store the energy your panels collect and use it later. By getting one of these batteries, you might even manage to reduce your energy bill to $0.
When it comes to preserving the environment, every contribution counts and you should try to make your renovation as eco-friendly as possible. Also, try to keep coming up with new ways you can reduce your carbon footprint even once the project is finished.
Written by Carolin Petterson
About the Author
Carolin Petterson is a Business Lady and contributor for number of high-class websites. She loves to share her experiences and talk about practical solutions, but her specialties are sustainability, sustainable business and green living.
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