Renovation Options To Build An Eco-Friendly Home
We all have to take a moment now, more than ever, and rethink our life choices. The way we have been abusing our natural resources and taking them for granted seems to have backfired that Mother Nature is protesting in fury. With the snow in the North Pole rapidly melting, to rising level seas endangering the existence of populated islands and countries, nature has been sending us alarming signals and it is about time we listen.
It starts with every single one of us doing some small adjustments toward living a greener life. If you have the same belief and you’re already considering renovating your home to become more eco-friendly, read on for some clever ideas that you should consider incorporating:
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
This is a fundamental principle to live by in order to become more eco-friendly. The first step is to try to reduce your consumption of substances and materials that are harmful to the environment like plastic. The second step is to reuse what you already have like repurposing old glass panels you were initially planning to dispose of into functional tabletops. Lastly, if you do not have an option to reuse, then you should always recycle. Do your own waste management and make sure everything goes into the right place. You will end up with a lot of waste while renovating, so make sure you contact your municipality to understand how to get rid of the extra wood and bricks and the like.
Use Natural Fertilizers
When landscaping your garden, make sure you depend on natural fertilizers. Not only is this better for the environment, but it is also better for your own health. To have a luscious and healthy garden, you do not need to use chemical pesticides that disrupt the natural food chain and eventually damage the environment. Using natural fertilizers can actually help you grow vegetables easier and safer. Gardening experts advise using soil supplements that will help your plant sprout faster and grow consistently while keeping the useful bacteria and other beneficial organisms. These nature-friendly boosters will help you reap maximum benefits from your homegrown produce, which is the point after all.
Recycle Water When possible
On average, a single person wastes around 30 gallons of water a day! This is a lot of water given that one person actually uses around a 100 gallons a day, which means that one person wastes about one-third of his/her daily needs. Now imagine how this adds up for a whole household. Tons of clean water go in vain while you shower and brush your teeth, etc. You can install a water treatment system to collect rainwater for you to use around the house for gardening and cleaning. This way, you are using water that would have otherwise gone wasted down the drain. You can even run this water through a filtration system to have it purified and ensure its safety for drinking
Install Solar Power Panels
Solar power is a great natural way to fulfill your energy needs around the house. Unlike regular electricity, which is produced in power stations, using fossil fuels through a process that has a substantial carbon effect, solar power is a clean resource that can actually benefit the environment. Solar panels were exclusively used for industrial purposes, as they were relatively expensive and complicated. Now that this kind of technology is more popular and widely accessible, you can find great options designed specifically for individual use.
Replace Your Old Windows with Double Glazed Ones
If you live in places with extreme weather conditions, double-glazed windows are necessary. Excessive use of air conditioners during the hot summer months result in a catastrophic amount of pollution and eventually contribute to the irreparable depletion of the ozone layer. By installing double-glazed windows, you will considerably limit your need for ACs. The same goes for using heaters during winter; double-glazed windows will fend off the cold and you will find yourself consuming less heating than usual.
Use Energy-Saving Light bulbs
Go around each room in your house and replace regular bulbs with energy-saving ones. Although they are more expensive, they last longer and are one of the simplest ways to make your house more eco-friendly.
Soon enough, becoming more eco-friendly will not be an option. With natural resources getting scarcer every day, there will not be enough water nor energy for everybody. Get a head start today and make the necessary adjustments to reduce your ecological footprint. Use the above tips to renovate your home and set an example for your neighbors and, hopefully, they will be inspired enough to follow suit.
