Remodeling your home gives you the opportunity to try out a variety of different styles and décor elements. However, with the recent interest in “green” living, your remodel can be the perfect time to make your home more sustainable and eco-friendly. If that thought makes you even more excited about your home renovation, here are six of the best sustainable designs you can introduce to your house.

 

Invest in efficient heating and cooling systems

Investing in energy-efficient HVAC systems will not only help you achieve the perfect indoor temperature, but also lower your energy consumption and your utility bills. For instance, underfloor heating can be both more efficient and more pleasant, especially in the bathroom or the kitchen. On the other hand, if your home tends to overheat in the summer, you can improve your roof ventilation. Use the natural flow of air to expel trapped heat and welcome cooler air inside. You can also invest in some smart gadgets like smart thermostats to help you minimize energy waste.

 

 

Use sustainable and eco-friendly materials

During your remodel, you can opt for using quality materials from local producers to reduce the carbon footprint your house leaves behind. Getting materials from the opposite side of the globe produces a lot of CO2 during the shipping process, so buying locally is a much better choice. You might also want to invest in reused, repurposed and recycled items and prevent them from ending up on a landfill. Aside from the environmental benefits, living in a green home can help improve your health and well-being. Since green building usually opts for low- or zero-VOC paints, natural fabrics and lighting, indoor air pollution levels are lower which can have an amazing effect on your respiratory health.

 

Conserve water

What was once available to almost everyone is quickly becoming a commodity. Droughts have been hitting various parts of the world leaving people, animals and plants completely out of water. That is the reason we need to start conserving this precious resource that is so crucial to our survival. However, there are various ways to lower your water consumption, from installing low-flow fixtures into your green bathroom to creating rain harvesting systems.

 

 

Harness the Sun

In the past, solar power was reserved for only rich homeowners, big corporations and a few eco-friendly fanatics. However, the solar panels of today are widely available, practical and effective. Also, their quality has gone up so much so they can fully power any household. Plus, these eco-friendly home additions also look very attractive and modern.

 

Efficient lighting

One of the best ways to boost your home’s illumination in a completely sustainable way is to improve natural lighting. Areas that get a lot of sunshine, like Australia, are already embracing natural light and investing in home renovations that can improve it even more. For instance, there are companies that produce skylights that sell various types of roof domes and solar light tubes that can bring natural light even to the darkest of spaces.

 

 

Pay attention to your outdoor spaces

Once you’re finished with your interior, don’t forget to green up your outdoor spaces and make them more sustainable. For instance, a lot of people want to have exotic tropical plants in their yard, even though they live in a drought-prone area. This will result in hundreds of gallons of wasted irrigation water, many bags of fertilizer and plenty of toxic pesticides. However, if you plant greenery that is local to your area, your garden will be much more sustainable and cost-effective. Local wildlife like bees, butterflies and other insects will also be able to find food and shelter in your garden when it looks like their natural habitat. Additionally, planting an edible garden will both green up your backyard and provide you with fresh food every day. It’s such a privilege to have organic veggies, fruit and herbs ready to be served right in your backyard! Plus, the aroma around your home will be simply mouthwatering.

 

Many people avoid going green, because they think it involves getting rid of many modern commodities. Naturally, that is not true. The only thing you need to give up during your green home remodel is some of your wasteful habits. With these sustainable design ideas and a little tweak to your behavior, your home will become a true eco-friendly oasis.

Guest post by Chloe Taylor

 

 

About the Author

Chloe is an interior design consultant from Adelaide and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Beside all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

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