Is It Possible to Do an Eco-Friendly Renovation?

an eco-friendly renovation

When you’re renovating your home or business, sustainability and environmental impact are important concerns at the forefront of your mind. Is it even possible or realistic to do an eco-friendly renovation?

The choice of expanding your existing home or business in place of constructing a new building is an environmentally sustainable decision. There are additional steps you may take to be conscious of the environment while renovating.

#1 Be Wise When Choosing Building Materials

Use local materials for building whenever possible. Engineered wood products, such as trusses and wood joists, may be used because of their stability and strength. For trim work and decking, recycled woods and plastics are available for multiple uses. Apply water-based paints and finishes.

#2 Embrace Recycled Materials

Did you know that exterior finishes are often made with green byproducts or recycled materials? It saves money and conserves resources.

Recycled lumber used for building a house
Recycled lumber used for building a house

Less energy is consumed in the manufacturing of these materials, along with fewer pollutants or harsh chemicals. These green exterior finishes are stylish and durable, and you wouldn’t know the difference from far away. For example, choose to use driveway pavers that were once recycled tires, or add shingles that are formed from quarry waste.

#3 Consider Natural-Fiber Carpets and Flooring

Indoor air contamination may be influenced by the installation of flooring that has volatile organic compounds (VOC), used during manufacture. Natural-fiber carpets and linoleum are hardy, choice options derived from renewable resources. For example, the cork found in linoleum is harvested without damage to the cork tree. Carpets that are created from plant-based materials, such as grasses and reeds, are also durable options for your eco-friendly renovation.

Cork lineoleum flooring
Cork linoleum flooring

#4  Skip or Limit VOC Products

You have more than the flooring to consider. VOCs, such as formaldehyde, are found within many pressure-treated building products. The danger of using these products presents short- and long-term effects, and exposure over time is harmful to human and environmental health. Instead, opt for steel studs and joists, plastic-impregnated wood-composite planks and untreated, kiln-dried lumber.

If you have to apply paints with VOC, find the lowest count possible. There are green paints on the market that are odorless and contain lower amounts of chemical fumes.

When disposing of leftover paints, do not empty or clean supplies in the back yard, thereby harming the environment with chemicals. Keep in mind municipal sewer systems are better equipped to filter and process such chemicals. If you’re not doing the painting yourself, choose a company that has a best practices policy for painting and paint disposal.

#5 Reconsider Insulation

As appropriate, use loose-fill insulation composed of cellulose fiber, which comes from recycled paper. Your existing insulation, along with heating and cooling ducts, should be properly insulated already. Insulated glass may be used when installing windows.

#6 Use Passive Solar Energy To Your Advantage

You don’t have to purchase and install solar panels to use solar energy. Passive solar energy takes place through the strategic orientation of your home’s expanded area, window placement and ventilation inside the structure. These strategic decisions help passive solar energy make the most of the sun’s energy to regulate heat in the winter and reduce the exposure of the sun to the building during summer.

#7 Install Energy-Efficient Appliances

Building considerations also apply to appliances, which do impact the environment. Some appliances use large amounts of energy, but many major appliances have EnergyStar labels you may review to judge energy and water consumption along with each model’s efficiency.  These items can save you money over the long-haul and even receive tax credits.

#8 Employ Low-Voltage Lighting

Standard lighting systems make use of line-voltage wiring and incandescent bulbs and wastefully produce too much heat with light. Low-voltage lighting, instead, converts the energy more efficiently to light, with a low heat rate. This system uses a transformer to bring down the voltage and halogen or fluorescent lights to convert the energy.

Don’t waste energy and materials when there are better choices. As appropriate, utilize recycled or green building materials and paints in your design and construction. Eco-friendly renovation is possible, affordable and stylish.

 

an eco-friendly renovation

 


Bobbi PetersonBobbi Peterson loves writing and regularly posts on her blog Living Life Green. She’s also a freelance writer, green living advocate and environmentalist. You can find more from Bobbi on Twitter.

 


photo of recycled lumber: By Khaosaming – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10435300

photo of cork linoleum flooring: By Gottshots–own work, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://www.flickr.com/photos/7246218@N04/

 

4 thoughts on “Is It Possible to Do an Eco-Friendly Renovation?

  1. I love the flooring ideas you shared. I will have to look into that. My husband and I want a large area rug to go into the living room. We also are thinking of removing the (really stupid) carpet out of the little bathroom, and putting linoleum down. The cork linoleum looks very interesting, I will have to look into that! Thanks so much for all the great information!

    1. We had a house that had white carpet in both bathrooms! Needless to say, it was one of the first things to go. We are going to do some major work on our house within the next year ourselves, and I’m looking into these flooring ideas for our kitchen.

  2. I have always been hyped of going green. I still feel enthusiastic, but sometimes I feel completely stuck and on the verge to give up. When going green, your choices, from upholstery to faucets, are limited. For example, I wanted upholstery without dyes in them, and I had to ask and search around for 3 months until I finally found what I was looking for.

    My advice for everyone who is considering a green renovation is to be patient. Don’t presume it is a quick job, especially if you are picky. Chaya, thanks for the insights.

    1. You are spot on. I have become discouraged at times, too, with pricing. Another reason to not get impatient!

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