By Emma Clark | Eco Warrior Princess
If you are planning on renovating your home, you’ll want to make sure you do it in style but without further causing harm to our environment.
Contrary to what many people think, there are plenty of ways to make your home renovation an environment-friendly one. That way, you have a home that is not only aesthetically pleasing but one that reduces environmental impact.
But how exactly do you renovate a home to make it simultaneously eco-friendly and stylish? In this article, we show you 10 of our favorite eco-friendly ways to renovate your home.
1. Use recycled glass
There are many home depots that now cell bio-glass that look like new windows but are 100% environment-friendly. They make a fantastic addition to the kitchen or your bedroom, as it brightens the whole space allowing natural lighting and morning sunshine – a great way to start your morning!
2. Use formaldehyde-free cabinets
Formaldehyde is commonly used in building materials and household products. But even if it’s found in many household and beauty products, it’s actually quite toxic! We recommend that you look for those free of this arterial to ensure safety for both your home and the environment’s well-being. There are now many stores that offer VOC and formaldehyde-free furniture such as kitchen cabinets.
3. Paint with low-VOC or VOC-free paint
VOC is short for volatile organic compounds which produce harmful molecules. This ends up with you and the household incurring long-term health effects, and they aren’t good ones either! Using VOC-free products like paint will help you breathe easier when at home.
4. Go solar
The sun is very powerful and it’s a renewable source of energy – so use it to your advantage! Collecting the sun's power via solar panels can give you the electricity to last the whole night, and you can use it to heart's content completely guilt-free! Solar energy is not only reliable and affordable, but it's also the cleanest power source available. This is why you should use solar energy. Not only will you help the environment through saving energy, but you will notice your electricity bills becoming less expensive as well.
5. Install a low-flow toilet
You may have seen the news focusing on water shortages. To help save the planet, it’s best to invest in a low-flow toilet to conserve water. You will still be able to flush with ease and enjoy the user-friendliness of these types of toilets.
6. Choose bamboo flooring
What makes bamboo different from other types of wood materials? It’s durable, moisture-resistant, grows back faster than wood and growing it uses fewer pesticides. We have an abundance of bamboo that can be harvested without destroying its roots, making it an environmentally friendly option. You get to save the lives of other trees and old-growth forests, all while getting sleek chic flooring. Just make sure to get a good hammer to carry out this project; plus, it’s energy-saving as well!
7. Using salvaged wood or discarded metal
Using recycled materials such as wood and metal will help to reduce waste and the need for fossil fuels as trucks and machinery aren’t required to cut down existing trees. Plus, it gives your home a unique and contemporary look. Don’t worry about rust or damage, as there are many types of salvaged materials that hold durability and beauty.