3 Eco-Friendly Ways to Renovate Your Home

Every home will need to be updated at some point, and if you’ve just moved into a new property, you’re more than likely going to want to make some changes and incorporate your own personality into the place.

However, when making these changes and carrying out these renovations, it’s important to be as eco-friendly as possible; we all need to do what we can for the planet. Changing the appearance and feel, and usefulness of your home is no excuse to be less than environmentally friendly. With that in mind, here are some fantastic eco-friendly ways to renovate your home.

Buy Pre-Owned Materials 

When you are buying materials for your renovation, there are many places in which you can buy them pre-owned. They might have come from someone else’s renovation project, for example, and even if that person no longer requires them, it doesn’t mean they aren’t perfect for your project. Before buying, check over each piece to ensure it is structurally sound and that it is going to work well for what you want it for. This might take some extra time, but the money you can save, not to mention the more positive environmental impact, means that this can be the best plan. You can even donate your unused or unneeded materials so someone else can use them in their project.

If you’re unable to buy pre-owned materials or you would prefer not to, look for lumber that has been sustainably sourced. In this way, even if you are buying new, you’re still not having a negative impact on the planet.

Install Solar Panels 

Solar panels used to be unusual, but now you can see them on rooftops across the country. The great thing about solar energy is that you don’t have to live in a hot or even particularly sunny climate for it to work; the sun’s rays are constantly reaching the earth even if we can’t feel them all the time. This means that you can charge the solar panels no matter what the weather or climate might be.

When you have solar panels installed on your roof, the energy you can create from them will save you money on your utility bills, and the less non-sustainable energy you’re using, the better it is for the planet. If more people used solar panels, we could lower the average temperature by 2oC, and although that might not sound like a lot, the impact would be incredible.

Be Energy Efficient 

No matter what changes you are making to your home, if you have a chance to make the place more energy efficient, you should take it. Look at your kitchen items, for example. Fridges, freezers, ovens, washing machines, and so on will all have an energy rating. Choose items with a high energy rating as this means they are much more energy-efficient and will use less power every time they are used.

As we know, this will save you money, and of course, the benefit to the environment is well documented. It’s not just kitchen items that can be energy efficient either; every piece of electronic equipment, your heating and cooling, and even your lighting can all be changed to be better for the planet.

About kamran

I am Kamran Shafqat, a Blogger, a Computer Engineer and an addicted Web Developer.Follow me on Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Googleplus - Read more..

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