When it comes to home improvement, the environment should always be a top priority. Making your home more sustainable is one of the most impactful things you can do for the planet. But the question is, why should you even consider sustainability when making improvements?
Benefits of Sustainability When Renovating Your Home
Sustainable home improvements reduce your environmental impact. This is important because the way we live our everyday lives has a significant impact on the planet. Making your home more sustainable can help mitigate some of that damage.
Additionally, sustainable home improvements often make your home more efficient. That means you can save money on your energy bills in the long run. If you invest in water-efficient fixtures, you can even increase your savings by having to use a lesser amount of water each day.
Sustainability is also crucial from a resiliency standpoint. If something happens to our environment – like climate change causing more extreme weather conditions – homes that are built sustainably will be better equipped to handle those challenges.
Challenges of Renovating Your Home the Sustainable Way
Renovating your home the sustainable way can be a challenge. For one, many people think that choosing sustainable home improvements is expensive. Many homeowners don’t have enough funds to accommodate their dream home renovation, let alone prioritize sustainable home improvements.
In reality, tacking on some sustainable additions to your home renovation doesn’t have to be expensive. There are many ways to make your home more sustainable without breaking the bank. And in some cases, making your home more sustainable can even save you money in the long run!
For instance, you can leverage certain mortgages like home improvement loans to finance the renovation. You can also find grants and tax breaks available to help offset the cost of sustainable improvements.
Another challenge homeowners often face when renovating their homes is finding the right professionals to help them. Many contractors and architects are still unfamiliar with sustainable design principles and may not be able to help you create a truly sustainable home.
However, this is changing rapidly as more and more people become interested in sustainability. Many resources are available to help you find the right professionals for your project.
Tips for a More Sustainable Home Renovation
You can do a few things to make your home renovation more sustainable.
First, try to use recycled and reclaimed materials as much as possible. Many great sources for reclaimed materials, like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. Choosing recycled and reclaimed materials is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of your renovation.
You can also buy furniture and appliances that are Energy Star certified. This means they meet strict efficiency standards set by the EPA. With such investments, you can reduce your energy usage and enjoy bigger savings in the long run.
Don’t forget that how you source your materials also matter. Try to buy from local businesses whenever possible. This reduces the environmental impact of transporting materials long distances.
Finally, make sure your contractor or architect is familiar with sustainable design principles. By working with someone who knows how to make your home more sustainable, you can be sure that every aspect of the renovation is considered.
Importance of Recycling and Reducing Waste During a Renovation
Renovating your home can create a lot of waste. This is especially true if you are disposing of many materials and plan on replacing most of your old appliances. This is why it’s important to recycle and reduce waste during your renovation.
Find ways to reuse and recycle some items so you will have less trash to discard. For items you no longer want and need but are still usable, you have the option to donate them or simply sell them. This is a good way to ensure your discarded but still usable items find another home.
Be sure to separate your recyclable materials from the rest of your trash. This makes it easier for your contractor to recycle them.
It also helps that you separate biodegradable items from your trash. Make sure you compost any food scraps or biodegradable materials. This will help keep that material out of the landfill and create nutrient-rich soil in the process.
You can also try to buy recycled and sustainable materials whenever possible. This will help reduce the amount of waste generated during the renovation.
The bottom line is that there are many good reasons to make your home more sustainable. When renovating, consider how you can make your home more environmentally friendly and efficient. It’s a great way to reduce your impact on the planet and save money in the process.
Salman is a prolific environmental writer, and has authored more than 500 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. He is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management, sustainability and conservation all over the world.
Salman can be reached on salman@cleantechloops.com
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