Affordable Eco-Friendly Home Renovations: Sustainable Living Projects on a Budget
By Marie Nieves
The summer season is upon us, and we all know what that means. Yeah, it’s finally the time for some much-needed and long-delayed renovations. And, this is always something to look forward to. You get an opportunity to sort out all things wrong with your home, breathe a new life into it, and completely overhaul the space without having to move.
What’s even more important, big renovations also leave doors open for doing something about the sustainability of your home and improving its efficiency. Keeping in mind the ongoing environmental issues and soaring energy prices, these tweaks should take a high place on the list of your priorities.
Let us take a look then at a couple of ways to pull these upgrades off in a manner that is in itself sustainable, affordable, and produces low environmental impact.
Leverage smart and energy-efficient tech
The latest-gen tech is more efficient in using electric energy than the older devices. So, whenever you get an opportunity, do your best to replace that obsolete tech with newer alternatives. Even if you simply swap the old incandescent bulbs for the new CFL or LED alternatives, you will be making savings up to 75% while lasting up to 25 longer.
Of course, your aim should be smart devices whose self-regulating capabilities can push the savings even further. We are talking about things like smart light fixtures or thermostats. These things are becoming increasingly affordable so put them on the list.
Do something about insulation
Ideally, you should do it top to bottom and use eco-friendly insulation materials like wood fiber wool, hemp, sheep’s wool, and cellulose. How much of it you are going to be able to pull off will depend on your budget. But, be sure to do at least something.
Small efforts like using paints with better thermal performance or covering sensitive areas like windows with drapes will still tick the numbers in your favor and improve the heat management of your home. Also, you can always try using spray foam, sealing the gaps around windows and doors, and applying shaded window films.
Start using renewable energy
We know, solar panels and similar green power sources sound like a very hefty investment. But, green loans and rebates are becoming increasingly accessible and they can be found all around the world. For instance, if you are living in Australia you can apply for green loans at Handy Finance or some similar institution.
The other alternative at your disposal is to go smaller scale. Pocket-sized charges and small backyard wind electric systems are more than capable of managing your device power consumption and trimming down the power bills you are making off the municipal power grid.
Use reclaimed furniture
Each year the United States alone produces a staggering 12.2 million tons of furniture waste. What’s even more concerning is that 80.2% of that waste eventually finds its way to the landfills.
Well, drop that mentality of consumerism and “fast furniture” and instead of buying new pieces, see if you can get the reclaimed ones. Even better – why wouldn’t you use this opportunity to stretch out your DIY muscles and try to create something yourself? Good sandpaper, eco-friendly paints, and a bit of old upholstery can do small wonders and give old pieces a new lease on life or an entirely new purpose.
Opt for eco-friendly materials and finishes
They are not only good for the environment and make your home a better place to live. Most of them are also very generously priced. So, if you are, for instance, installing new flooring, drop the traditional hardwood options and instead go for bamboo. It’s durable, beautiful looking, a breeze to maintain, and, what’s even more important, incredibly easy to regrow.
When the time comes to take care of the finishes, avoid traditional paints and varnishes. The eco-friendly options which feature low amounts or even zero VOCs will do the same job, but make your home much more hospitable.
Don’t forget the water
Last but not least, we would like to remind you that sustainability is about preserving all of the critical resources, not only the electric power. So, while you are overhauling your home, try doing something about water preservation as well. Once again, you have several options at hand. For a start, you can install low-flow fixtures, showerheads, and toilets.
The last mention cuts down water consumption by a whole 77% which is simply awesome. If you want to go one step further you can consider investing in water reclamation systems that will cover most of the utility requirements you can think of.
Wrapping-up
Well, there you have it – the top six ways to use this summer season to remodel your property and do that in the most effective and sustainable manner possible. The energy crisis and environmental issues are becoming more obvious with each passing day. So, we can choose either to deal with this new reality or take active steps in putting an end to it, all while making our lives more comfortable.
We think it’s easy to see which of these alternatives makes a better choice. Use the tips we gave you above and you will make a small but important step in making the world a better place.
Author bio: Marie Nieves is a passionate blogger with an eye for design, a flair for storytelling, and a love for culture. She contributes regularly to various blogs and online magazines, all while satisfying her wanderlust by exploring states and countries near and far.
