What kind of footprint do you leave behind? Is it a large footprint? An arched footprint perhaps? How about a green footprint? Sustainability has been a topic of increased popularity in recent times, and if leaving a green footprint through your lifestyle is a value that is important to you, then you may want to consider how changes to your home may help to achieve that.
Below are 7 eco-friendly renovation choices that you can make to help you reduce your carbon footprint.
Energy-efficient Lighting
One of the easiest ways to cut your energy bill significantly and reduce the load on the grid is to swap out your incandescent bulbs for LEDs, if you haven’t already. LEDs use up significantly less energy and tend to have a longer life span, meaning that you will throw fewer of these out in your lifetime and spend less time and resources constantly replacing them.
Overall, it’s a win-win situation, and you will be contributing to a greener Earth from just this one small change.
Voc-free Paint
VOC (volatile organic compounds) can be found in a myriad of things, from paint to industrial glues, cleaning supplies, and more. These VOCs are carcinogenic and reduce the quality of the air in your home, and can be very harmful to your health with long-term exposure. With regard to paint, it is possible to mitigate the presence of VOCs by avoiding cheaply produced products.
It may be tempting to cut the costs of a home renovation wherever you can, and paint may seem like the most sensible place to do it, but the extra charge is worth your and your family’s health. This one simple choice can make your house a healthier and safer sanctuary for everyone who walks into it!
Seal Windows and Doors
The heating and cooling of your home throughout the seasons accounts for a significant chunk of your energy bill each month, and you would be surprised how much of this energy actually goes to waste because of improperly sealed windows and doors! You can cut your energy bill by upgrading your windows and doors to more energy-efficient alternatives.
This is certainly the most effective way to go about this, but understandably, you may not be looking to replace all of the windows and doors throughout your entire home. A few quicker and more savvy solutions may include sealing your windows by caulking, installing weather insulation film, or installing certain window treatments.
Whatever your desired solution may be, ensure that drafty openings are taken care of so that all of the cool or warm air being generated in your home actually stays inside.
Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are a pretty sizable investment, but the payoff is well worth it. If you have the resources to almost completely sever your reliance on the grid and install enough solar panels on your roof to achieve that, that would be the best outcome, and you will be contributing significantly to making the earth greener.
However, not everyone has $30,000 lying around that they can just use to purchase and install solar panels (this is the average cost); there are still smaller and more cost-effective ways to harness the sun’s free energy to reduce your carbon footprint.
The use of a solar water heater will work wonders for cutting your electric bill down considerably, or even replacing your outdoor lights with solar-powered lights can reduce your load. At the end of the day, it’s the collective of small decisions and lifestyle changes that result in a great outcome.
Switch to Low-flow Fixtures
A lot of water wastage in your home comes from the flow of your fixtures, especially from toilets, which can waste liters and liters of water with each flush! Switching out your existing fixtures to low-flow fixtures can minimize the water wastage in your home by reducing the load of water being released when in use.
For toilets, even the dual-flush option is far more efficient than not having that feature at all. So, if you are considering a bathroom renovation anytime soon, see what low-flow options are available to you and see how you can incorporate them into your home.
Repurposing Materials
So much material goes to waste during most renovations, and homeowners rarely think about where this waste has to go once it’s all been cleared out – most of it ends up in landfills if intentional steps to preserve and reuse materials aren’t taken.
Things you can consider for reuse can include kitchen cabinets – if you take them down carefully enough, you may be able to reuse them for a different project or even donate them.
Wood flooring can be preserved and taken to recycling plants. Old furniture can be sold to a second-hand marketplace, or (if you have the skill and creativity) can be repurposed after some reupholstering, repainting, replacing handles, or whatever it may be!
Just because you are looking to flip your home does not mean that the old things won’t have a new purpose to serve in the renovated space.
Rainwater Recovery Systems
Rainwater is free and abundant, and a rainwater recovery system can help you harness this incredible benefit (because really, what is left in the world that is free anymore?). Rainwater can be collected from gutters atop roofs, stored in a tank, and used for other purposes later on, such as being connected to a sprinkler system.
If you are willing to put in a little more to invest in sophisticated water filtration systems, you may even be able to use this water in the day-to-day activities in your home. The possibilities are abounding.
Conclusion
Whether you are looking to make small adjustments to your home, like caulking your window, or whether you are looking to make some dramatic changes to your house, such as a full home renovation, and you need painting services, and you would like guidance on which paint brands to consider, JG Contracting is always eager to serve in whatever way possible.
We value what is important to you, so feel free to get in touch with us to share the vision that you have for your new home project, such as making it the greenest sanctuary in your neighborhood. We are always one call away.
📧 Email: jgcontractingyyz@gmail.com
📞 Phone: 437-259-9632
🌐 Website: https://jgcontractingyyz.com
