Green Up Your Renovation: 5 Great Tips for Eco-Friendly Home Improvement
Americans will spend $340 billion in 2018 on home improvements. That’s up 7.5% from the previous year.
But how can your home improvements help you create an eco-friendly home? Here are 5 ways that your renovations can be earth-friendly.
1. Build a Composite Deck
If your home renovations including sprucing up your backyard, consider a composite deck.
It is eco-friendly because it is made out of wood waste and recycled plastic. Best of all, it lasts much longer than wood and won’t warp or rot.
You won’t need to sand or stain the deck every season as you do with a wood deck. And no splinters!
Being eco-friendly has never been so good!
2. Install Solar Panels
If you need to replace your roof as part of your home renovations, consider putting in solar panels. It’s best to install solar panels on top of a brand-new roof so that you don’t have to pay to remove the panels in just a few years to replace the roof.
Solar energy is the cleanest and most renewable source of energy.
Yes, installing solar panels is expensive at first. But if you plan to be in the home for years, you recoup your investment over time. You can even sell your extra energy and make an income from your solar panels.
And, there may be government grants or other incentives that can help offset the cost of solar panels.
3. LED Lights
LED lights last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. And they use at least 75% less energy.
Putting LED light bulbs in your home is a smart way to save on your energy bill and reduce your carbon footprint. So go ahead and install a chandelier knowing that you are saving money and helping the planet.
4. Choose Low-Flow Showers and Toilets
Showers account for more than 1.2 trillion gallons of water usage each year.
And each year, the cost of water is rising. It is one of the most expensive household bills across the country.
Taking a shower costs you on your energy bill as well as your water bill. That’s a double whammy. Each minute of showering time equals 2.5 gallons of water.
Toilets are the number one biggest water waster in a home.
Older toilets can use as much as 7 gallons of water with every flush. High-efficiency toilets may use as little as 1.6 gallons of water per flush. That’s a huge difference.
5. Eco-Friendly Paint
No home renovation is complete with a new paint job.
Make sure you choose an eco-friendly paint or stain to keep toxic chemicals out of your home. Regular paint has airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
These VOCs are bad for your health. They can cause headaches, dizziness, visual and respiratory impairment-even memory loss.
If you are looking for an interior painting contractor, Image Line Painting offers a two-year warranty on their work.
Bottom Line on Eco-Friendly Home Improvement
We hope these eco-friendly options have given you some ideas for your home improvement projects.
Ready to tackle a bigger eco-friendly project? Learn how to build a DIY solar oven.