Saving the environment is an all-hands-on-deck project, and if you want your children, grandchildren and other descendants to have a planet to live on, you will want to fight. Since your home is basically your self-portrait, this is the place to start. But a green remodel has its more direct benefits too. For one, it helps you save money by cutting down your energy bills. It also makes your home a healthier place to live in, since many of the conventional materials used in construction and interior design can release harmful toxins into the air and jeopardize your health. If you are interested in remodeling your property with sustainability in mind, here’s what you can do.
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Seal The Heat/Cool In
A large percentage of a household’s costs goes into heating and cooling. But what if we told you that most of that is a waste of money since the heat and cool temperature generated inside the house often escape the interior through air leaks or poorly insulated walls? There is a solution for that. First, inspect the areas around the doors and windows for air gaps and seal them. Then, check how well insulated your house is, and if there is a need, improve the insulation. Just make sure you choose an eco-friendly insulator such as Icynene, sheep’s wool, or cellulose.
Replace The Windows
Speaking of retaining the indoor temperature, installing double or triple-glazed windows can help you achieve maximum energy-efficiency. These windows can allow the light during the hottest days without making your home feel like a sauna. Also, they don’t let the heat or cold leave the property as easily as regular windows do. If you have a historic home that doesn’t support modern windows aesthetically, you could get similar benefits from installing storm windows.
Green Up Your Flooring
Nothing makes an old house feel entirely new as new flooring. Putting looks on the side, installing new floors might be a good choice, health-wise. Many of the earlier manufactured parquets, laminates and linoleums, contain harmful matters, like formaldehyde, which are gradually released into the air you breathe. Some of the greener materials to use are bamboo, cork, Marmoleum, glass tile, and reclaimed wood.
Install Solar Panels
Harnessing the power of the sun is a green, eco-friendly solution for fueling your home more efficiently while also giving a boost to your home value. Other than ensuring that you get quality solar panels, you should also make sure that the other components such as solar inverters are high-quality as well. Installing a reliable solar inverter goes a long way in boosting energy generation while also ensuring that your solar system performs at an optimal level. What’s more, going solar can help you save a significant amount of money in the long run, so it’s definitely an upgrade worth considering.
Paint Responsibly
When painting your walls, do you ever think about what’s in the paint bucket? Many paints produced before a decade or more contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These substances are solvents that can get released into the air and cause acute symptoms such as headaches and dizziness. While modern-day paints rarely contain large amounts of VOCs, even the smallest amounts can pile up and cause damage due to permanent exposure. That’s why it is always better to go with low-VOC or VOC-free paints.
Choose Organic Textiles
What’s your old rug made of? Maybe it is polypropylene, polyester or acrylic? Did you know that these synthetic materials are treated with harsh chemicals during the production? These chemicals don’t stay inside the rug; they are released into the air in the form of toxic fumes. An organic jute rug won’t cause similar problems, neither will wool nor seagrass. It’s the same with materials used for upholstery, blankets, bedding, cushions… Always choose a material that is produced responsibly without the use of chemicals, and your home will be safe.
Change The Lighting
Taking the step towards creating a green and smart home can be as simple as making a switch to energy-efficient lighting. If you are still using incandescent light bulbs, you are probably spending more energy than you need and pay higher bills because of that. You will save more if you let plenty of natural light in, and replace your old bulbs with CFLs or LED lights.
Smart Is The New Green
In this day and age, technology has found its way into every area of our lives, especially our homes. And here it can have many benefits. A smart thermostat can regulate the temperature in your house according to your habits (e.g., it turns down the temperature when you are sleeping), and it can be controlled from anywhere. Smart lighting functions similarly. You will never again have to wonder whether you’ve turned off the light when you leave home. One tap on your smartphone and it’s off.
Renovating a home is both time and money consuming. But since you are already doing it, why wouldn’t you invest in creating a healthier and more energy-efficient living space? This is an endeavor that will pay off in the long run, not to mention the fact you will contribute to the never-ending battle of preserving the planet. So don’t wait a second more, green up!