9 Eco-friendly Ways to Renovate Your Home with Less Carbon Footprint

Home renovation projects can help make your life a lot better and more comfortable. But for the eco-conscious, the carbon footprint it can generate can be a deal-breaker.

If you are worried about a house renovation’s environmental impact, then read on.

What is a Carbon Footprint?

Carbon footprint is a term used to encapsulate the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from our actions. These greenhouse gas emissions can trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Now that you know what a carbon footprint is, it’s time to figure out the importance of reducing it when it comes to home renovation projects.

Importance of Reducing Carbon Footprint in Home Renovation

Construction can come with greenhouse gas emissions that are harmful to our atmosphere. Although there’s only so much that you can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it’s still great to do your part in helping tackle climate change.

Not only will you have a comfortable and functional house, but you also won’t feel guilty about it.

With that said, here are nine eco-friendly ways you can renovate your home.

1. Buy reclaimed pieces

When sourcing materials you’re going to use for your home, try and look for reclaimed pieces. A popular option would be reclaimed wood.

They look great, but you’re also reducing the waste that you produce. Overall, reclaimed wood can help you reduce costs and save time from looking for a source for other materials.

2. Use VOC-free paint

Paint can release volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which evaporate and reach the atmosphere as it’s drying. These chemicals can be harmful not only to the environment but also to you.

Therefore, you might want to look into VOC-free paint to use when painting your home. VOC-free paint is especially great for places like bedrooms and your children’s rooms.

3. Reface your home

If the renovation is meant to beautify your home, consider refacing it instead. Something as simple as repainting your cabinets can elevate the look of your home.

These types of renovation projects aren’t as costly, but their aesthetic effects are impactful.

4. Donate your unwanted items

When you’re renovating your home, you’re likely going to generate some waste. It can be through finding old, unused items or through construction debris.

With that in mind, know that how you deal with the trash is also a critical step that can affect your carbon footprint. Therefore, you should be more aware of how you deal with the waste that you produce.

According to Planet Maids home cleaning services NYC, it’s better to donate any unwanted but still usable items that you have. Sure, you can recycle them, but you have a better chance of knowing that your unused items didn’t end up in a landfill.

5. Think energy-efficient

When you think of living a more energy-efficient life, you might think of being incredibly meticulous about the amount of energy that you use. However, you don’t have to be that strict to be energy-efficient at home.

There are many affordable and energy-efficient home changes that you can do that don’t require you to live a life of scarcity. For example, you can switch out your old, outdated light bulbs for LED ones. They’re bright, don’t use as much energy, and will last longer.

6. Upgrade your home’s insulation

Upgrading your home’s insulation is an excellent renovation project in terms of being a sustainable move on your part.

If your home isn’t insulated well, you’re generating energy to heat your home, but it’s leaking out faster than it should. That means that the power that went into creating the heating for your home has already gone to waste.

By upgrading your home’s insulation, you don’t waste energy. At the same time, you reduce the amount of energy you use, which can help you save more money.

7. Go solar

If your budget allows, consider investing in a renewable energy source that can power up your home in a sustainable way?

Many homes nowadays have been opting for solar power to power up their homes, which is excellent. Sure, the initial costs of installing solar panels might be expensive, but the long-term benefits outweigh the costs over time anyway.

You’ll find that your electricity bills are lower. And when your solar panels produce more energy than you use, your electricity provider can even give you money for it.

8. Use low-maintenance materials

Try and use low-maintenance materials as much as possible for any of your green home renovation projects. You want durable materials and don’t require much upkeep so that they last for a long time.

For example, stones for your exteriors are excellent because they are strong and can withstand a lot without any maintenance on your part. Plus, if you do have to do your maintenance on them, they won’t need much.

9. Add skylights

Another home renovation idea that can help you become more sustainable would be the strategic addition of skylights. Skylights are an exciting addition to any home, but you shouldn’t go overboard, or they might be too costly. The key is to be strategic with the placement.

You want to install them in places that people most commonly use in your house during the day. The kitchen and living room are two great examples of that.

Skylights are an excellent way of getting natural light into your home. You don’t rely on your artificial lighting as much, which reduces your overall energy consumption.

From using reclaimed pieces to opting for long-term sustainable investments, there are plenty of ways you can spruce up your home. What’s great is that you are reducing the adverse environmental impact that you create.