Today is the tomorrow we thought about yesterday and the choices we make today will impact our tomorrow. Growing awareness about global warming and climate change has led people to think about remodeling their houses in more greener ways. Small contributions in changing the way we live can make a big difference in saving our planet. Renovate your house the eco friendly way by adopting simple techniques. There are various things that you can replace from the flooring of your house to the cabinetry and vanity fittings and fixtures. Simple steps like eliminating toxin materials, using recycled materials in your daily routine and avoiding VOC adhesives can help you contribution toward a healthy environment. Here are some ideas for your greener home.
Use environmentally friendly substitutes for your house flooring
Choosing long lasting, low VOC floor coverings can be the first step in remodeling your house in a greener way. Try to replace your conventional non eco friendly flooring with nature friendly flooring like linoleum flooring or cork flooring or bamboo flooring. These flooring materials offer durability and are a good choice from an ecological point of view. They are renewable, biodegradable and recyclable. They do not emit toxic substances and yet are available in variety of colors and designs. They are generally low cost low maintenance products. They have very low negative impact on environment and human health. Most of them are waterproof and have anti bacterial properties and are easy to clean, reducing the need for maintenance cost and water usage. If you want to choose something different from the standard practice, concrete floors can be an excellent source saving you energy and money.
Eco friendly doors and windows
Environmentally friendly furniture can be a great choice for your green home. Remodeling your doors and windows to acknowledge the growing gobal climate concerns and damage to the nature is a great option to make your house go green. Using energy efficient doors and windows is now fashionable as they are affordable. For instance windows should be located around areas, which receive maximum sunlight to save energy. Eco friendly concept requires appropriate sustainable architecture. Try to glaze your doors and windows by using paints, which are low on VOC and do not emit toxic substances. Use low to no emission paints and recycle your old doors and windows.
Energy efficient appliances
Energy efficient appliances are reasonably priced and easy to replace. You can switch to star rating lighting options that not only help conserve energy but help in reducing your monthly electricity bills as well. Look for energy star labels while purchasing appliances. Higher the rating, more energy efficient they are. Try to opt for dimmers for your conventional lighting or replace traditional lighting options with eco friendly and energy efficient mechanisms like LED lighting or solar skylights or CFLs. They help save energy and cost and need almost nil maintenance. Try to opt for solar appliances like solar water heater or solar panels or clothesline. They use natural source of energy, thereby reducing energy costs and are energy efficient too. You can also replace your bathroom fittings with eco friendly fixtures like low flow faucets or low flow toilets or tankless water heaters. All these environmentally friendly options not only save energy, but also help save non renewable sources of energy and cost at the same time with little effort. For instance CFL or LED lighting last longer than incandescent bulbs and are durable.
Conclusion
When home owners opt to go green, they can choose from a variety of sustainable resources, from recycled products to energy efficient products for their homes. Try to salvage what ever you can to save the planet. Look for recycling options and techniques. Be as efficient as possible with your budget as going green can sometime be an expensive affair. For instance consider refacing your cabinets than replacing them. Use techniques like rain water harvesting and try to tap solar energy as far as possible. Look for eco friendly water management options and biodegradable products for your eco home.
