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Do you think it’s time to renovate your home? Do you know that you can do it in style without causing harm to the environment? That’s what experts call sustainable renovation. It uses ideas and tools that are eco-friendly and can reduce your carbon footprint.
Source
Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas produced by an individual. The primary sources of greenhouse gas are food, transportation, and household activities that include cooking, renovations, and more.
Why is sustainable renovation important to the environment? The building or renovation of a home may cost a lot of money. Aside from that, it involves the use of materials that may potentially harm the environment, such as chemicals, woods, and steel. By using these products, you promote the industries that produce them. Sadly, these manufacturers yield a high carbon footprint.
So, the question is, how can you ensure that your home makeover is good for the environment? Here are excellent ways to make your renovations sustainable:
It is crucial to maintain a safer and cleaner waste management system. Because of this, you may want to try using skip bins for your garbage disposal. There are different types of skip bins you can choose from depending on your household needs. With this, you can ensure that harmful chemicals and volatile compounds will be efficiently managed and disposed of properly.
Furthermore, when you use skip bins, you’ll be working with experts trained to handle different kinds of waste by using the most sustainable garbage removal and management method. This way, you can ensure a safe and clean environment for your family and for others around you.
Floors greatly contribute to making your home aesthetically pleasing even to your guests, and you can surprise them more by using reclaimed hardwood flooring. Even experts prefer these reclaimed wooden boards as they do not warp as long as they are correctly installed.
Furthermore, you may also try using cork boards. These are renewable and can be acquired from the same tree for centuries. According to experts, using cork more than the other flooring materials can reduce up to five times carbon emissions. Also, it is soft and has an excellent heating ability which is perfect for winter season.
VOC or volatile organic compounds found in paint produce substances and odors in the air that are harmful to humans. Too much exposure to these products may result in lifelong health conditions, including cancers and respiratory problems. That’s why all homeowners need to consider VOC-free paints during home building and remodeling.
With reduced VOC levels, you and your family will be able to breathe easily without the risk of getting illnesses.
Chemicals are the number one contributor to causing harm to you and the environment. Unfortunately, chemicals can be found everywhere in the construction industry. It is present when you remove spillage, wash paintbrushes, and clean household facilities.
When you choose products to clean your bricks and strip your wallpapers, make sure that it is free from formaldehyde. This chemical is highly hazardous to you and the environment. So, you may want to avoid products containing formaldehyde as much as possible.
When people use energy to power up their devices, the rate of combustion to produce energy increases. As an effect, the rate of greenhouse gases will increase as well. If you want to reduce these gases and the energy combustion rate, it would be best for you and the environment to harvest energy from natural sources.
You may generate green energy in different ways, such as using wind turbines or installing solar panels to take advantage of the sun’s power.
These alternative sources of energy are not just eco-friendly, they also help in cutting down energy consumption costs.
Do you know what to do with some of the items you’re not planning to use any more? As much as possible, don’t think of throwing them away. Instead, donate them to those who may need them. By doing this, you’ll be able to declutter your home, making it more spacious. On top of that, you also get to help other people at the same time. Furthermore, it will make home renovations easy because you won’t have to deal with managing unwanted items.
Around one-fourth of your total water consumption comes from your toilet usage. When flushing a single bowl, you consume around 15 liters of water, depending on the type of toilet you use. Therefore, replacing your current plumbing system with low-flow devices is necessary to save water and lower your bills.
If you want to decrease your water consumption, you would want to try installing a dual-flush system. With only a single press of a button, you’ll be able to flush solid and liquid waste separately. Additionally, you may install flow governors on your sinks and showers to minimize water use and recycle water as much as possible.
If you want to have an eco-friendly home, energy-efficient appliances are necessary. When looking for appliances, you would want to consider devices that have energy saver stickers on them. This way, you’ll be sure that these appliances will save you money and lessen your power consumption at the same time. Furthermore, lower electric consumption means lower combustion rate and reduced carbon footprints.
To promote less energy use, you may try replacing your old lightings with LED. This type of artificial lighting may significantly reduce your power use and can last up to 20 years.
A good ventilation system is required for most houses, especially those that are built in high radon areas. Radon is a radioactive gas proven to cause cancer. According to experts, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer for most secondhand smokers and second to primary smokers. Thus, the need to install an excellent radon-venting system is essential.
However, do not rely everything on your equipment. For natural air ventilation, you can open your doors and windows. This will the air to get in and circulate properly inside your house.
Final Words
It is alarming to know that global warming is accelerating at a faster rate. This calls for all people to promote and use renewable and sustainable materials and activities as much as possible.
Additionally, more houses are being built and renovated over the past year even with the pandemic surge. That’s why everyone must learn how to do it in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. You can use sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, energy-efficient appliances, efficient water systems, and more.
So, if you’re planning to make your humble home greener than ever, don’t hesitate to use these easy tips and tricks and enjoy a safer and cleaner environment for you and your family.
