Personalizing your house is one of the best parts of being a homeowner. You can transform it into any kind of space, especially if you want it to match your values. Eco-friendly renovations will give you a new look while protecting the planet.
You’ll discover strategic upgrades that greatly impact your home’s functionality and the environment’s health.
1. Install New Windows
Swapping your window panes for updated models might not sound like a big deal, but it could make a significant difference for the planet. Older windows fall apart due to weathering. You could be letting in air leaks that change the internal temperature of your home. It makes your HVAC run more often than necessary, which increases your property’s electricity usage and carbon footprint.
Get new windows that fit your existing cutouts. Your home will immediately retain heat and air conditioning more effectively. You could even find them by looking for someone nearby replacing theirs with a different style.
2. Find a Smart Oven
Nearly every appliance has a smart model. Your oven could be the next home improvement that helps the planet. It’ll connect to your Wi-Fi, so you know exactly when it turns on, when it reaches the right temperature and if it’s cooling off.
You’ll also get notifications when it’s time to clean your oven so it works efficiently. See if one’s on sale at a local store or if you can upcycle one from a nearby estate sale.
3. Upgrade Your Water Heater
Standard water heaters can make up nearly one quarter of a home’s annual energy output, which is especially significant if your household uses lots of water. Renovate your space by getting a new water heater. Modern models have lower energy factors, which means they use less electricity to heat water for your showers, laundry and dishwasher cycles.
Depending on your budget, you could even invest in a heat pump that warms your water with the hot air outside the heater to minimize electricity usage to nearly nothing.
4. Use Energy Star Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans get Energy Star ratings when they provide the same amount of airflow while reducing the electricity necessary to function. They’re easy to find, so you could get one from a store or donation center. As long as it has the Energy Star certification on the packaging, you’ll use less electricity while upgrading the appearance of any room.
Don’t forget to double-check your fan’s rotation. You can force your home’s heat back down in the winter if you direct its spin toward the ground instead of the ceiling. Your home may feel warmer longer, which reduces how often your HVAC unit needs to pump warm air.
5. Change Your HVAC Filters
Consider changing your HVAC filters to make it easier for your unit to operate. Changing them regularly prevents dust from clogging the filters and making the HVAC unit work longer to suck in air. You’ll also be able to paint any peeling areas on the filter frame or swap the frame door to match the newly painted trim around your interior walls.
6. Swap Your Cabinets With Reclaimed Wood
Renovate your space without worrying about your environmental footprint by choosing reclaimed wood. This material comes from demolition sites, so ordering new kitchen cabinets won’t contribute to deforestation.
If you can’t find reclaimed cabinets in a hue you like, you can always stain them to match your interior decorating style.
7. Hang Thick Curtains
Curtains are always a great home improvement idea. They switch a room’s appearance with less than a few minutes of work. If your new panels use thick material, like velvet or heavy drapery fabric, they’ll also maintain your home’s internal temperature.
Cold air against your window frames won’t seep into your home if heavy panels hold it in place. Your HVAC unit won’t have to work as hard if you have window leaks and can’t upgrade to new models right away.
8. Look for Eco-Friendly Paint
Eco-friendly paint uses natural pigments to create hues of all colors. If you want to renovate your home and give it a new interior design scheme, coating your walls in a few coats of all-natural paint could do the trick. See if you can find the shade you have in mind from a sustainable company that makes paint with natural dyes.
If you can’t find an eco-friendly company that makes the shade you want, you could always purchase your specific shade and donate the same amount of money to an environmental charity. Your purchase will still help the Earth, no matter what you decide to do.
Renovate Your Space While Prioritizing the Planet
Renovate your space with sustainable ideas and planet-friendly projects. Looking for smart appliances, getting all-natural paint or upgrading your water heater could shrink your home’s carbon footprint. You don’t need to go off the grid or even install solar panels to give back to the planet through your household projects.
