Time changes everything, especially in our living spaces. Home renovation upgrades transform the interior and exterior, giving various installations a new look. The material you choose for your home renovation projects can have a significant impact on the environment, or they can create a more comfortable living space without being resource-intensive—whichever way, the choice is yours.
Home renovations can be cost-intensive and stressful, but doing them sustainably promotes environmental well-being and aligns with the sustainability trend that has recently gained traction.
The construction industry consumes a large amount of resources, which harms our environment. Today’s buildings account for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of carbon dioxide emissions in the European Union. Regarding carbon emission, new buildings in the EU need less than 3 to 5 litres (0.8 to 1.32 gallons) of heating oil per square metre per year, while older buildings consume about 25 litres (6.6 gallons) on average.1
Prioritizing sustainability on a renovation project helps to minimize your carbon footprint. Choosing sustainable options, from flooring to lighting, painting, and other home installations not only ensures a cost-effective living space—it also helps the planet recover. Additionally, there are sustainable DIY ideas to create a unique décor to complement the new look.
Sustainable Approaches to Home Renovation and DIY Projects
1. Sustainable Home Renovation
The sustainability trend focuses on minimizing our carbon footprint in a world already struggling with continuous pollution that contributes to climate change. Going green is more than a trend; it’s a movement with many advocates educating others on sustainability and eco-friendly practice that helps the conservation of earth resources.
Home renovation is not a project you get to do often. It’s an opportunity for you to make decisions that prioritize environmental sustainability. By focusing on sustainability, you can transform what was once an old and uncomfortable living space into an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly one.
While energy-efficient renovation may require a considerable upfront investment, it’s a long-term commitment worth every penny spent—and pays off with time in both cost saving and comfort.
2. Eco-Friendly Flooring
Making the right home installation decisions should begin with eco-friendly flooring. Environmentally friendly flooring refers to installations with little or no impact on the environment.
The flooring materials are sustainably sourced from nature and do not contain any toxic chemicals, making them the perfect choice to include in your renovation project.2
Eco-friendly flooring should be top of your list for a sustainable renovation. Some of the best flooring options, far better than synthetic ones, include materials like cork, bamboo, glass tiles, wool carpets, and carpets made from recycled plastic bottles.
Engineered timber floorboards are also a safe alternative, unlike synthetic flooring which can release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) when damaged. Engineered wood flooring is a durable option to consider. The core of this wood flooring is made from high-density fibreboard, which is sustainably sourced with minimal natural resources.
3. Eco-Friendly Windows
Installing energy-efficient windows is a smart way to reduce your utility bills. Windows can affect indoor temperature by losing heat or cool air. It’s estimated that 30% of a home’s energy is lost due to inefficient windows in homes.3
When making renovation plans, consider replacing old windows that affect indoor temperature during both hot and cold seasons. Losing hot or cold air through windows can result in high electricity bills during the different seasons of the year.
Replace your old windows with well-positioned, sound-insulated ones for optimal energy efficiency. These windows are designed to serve as thermal seals to prevent the loss of cold and hot air from indoor spaces.
Aluminium windows are durable and worth considering as part of your renovation materials. Timber windows are another durable option to replace old ones.
4. Switch to Energy-Efficient Appliances
Buying new home appliances may be part of a home renovation plan. If it is, this is an opportunity to reduce your utility bills by choosing energy-efficient appliances.
When upgrading your home appliances, consider ENERGY STAR-rated appliances. Whether you are replacing air cleaners, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, electric cooking products, refrigerators, boilers or dryers, always choose ENERGY STAR energy-efficient products. Additionally, we strongly recommend you properly dispose of old appliances to avoid generating e-waste that may end up in landfills.
5. Choose Eco-Friendly Paint
Painting beautifies the indoor space, but your renovation preferences should prioritize sustainability alongside colour choices. Paints containing toxic chemicals that emit irritating fumes are harmful to both the environment and human health. These interior paints can emit low levels of VOCs even after the painted surface has dried.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VOCs include a variety of chemicals, and some may have short or long-term health effects. Concentrations of various VOCs released indoors are up to ten times higher than those released outdoors.4
Eco-friendly paints offer a safer alternative, avoiding health and environmental risks. These paints are sustainably manufactured and have little to no VOC content, minimizing the risk of indoor air pollution—and carbon footprint associated with traditional paints.
Learn more: 10 Green Technology Examples in Homes
Repainting Cabinetry with VOC/VOC-Free Paints
Low VOC and VOC-free paints pass the sustainability test for repainting bathroom or kitchen cabinets. Using these paints offers a second life to cabinets that may have once been considered too old to include in a renovation plan.
6. Use LED Light Bulbs
Overhauling your indoor lighting by switching to an energy-efficient option can illuminate your living space more sustainably. While LED bulbs may be slightly more expensive than incandescent ones, their long-term use is worth it, as they can save you money on utility bills and minimise your home’s carbon footprint.5
According to HGTV, a typical 100-watt floodlight, if used for at least six hours daily can consume about $40 of electricity in a single year. Depending on the location, It also generates up to 400 pounds (181 kg) of carbon dioxide in the same period.6
LED bulbs require less energy, making them a reliable electrical light source for your home.
7. Install a Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are energy-efficient and provide a solution for conserving heated water. They address the issue of wasted heated water from traditional tank water heaters.
Unlike traditional tank water heaters, tankless models work by heating the water as it passes through pipes, providing hot water on demand. This minimizes the amount of energy required to heat a large quantity of water in a tank.
Eco-Friendly Materials and Methods for Home Improvements
1. Switch to Solar Energy
When considering eco-friendly materials, solar panels should be at the top of the list in your renovation plan. If it’s feasible in your location, installing solar panels can be a game-changer.
Although the installation cost may be high, it’s a long-term investment, as utilizing solar power can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy has gained more popularity in the past few years, as more people are harnessing the powers of the sun to generate clean energy without harming the environment.
A home renovation that includes the installation of solar panels allows you to generate your electricity sustainably. Help the planet recover from the effect of greenhouse gas emissions by choosing a clean energy source to power your home.
2. Install Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Water is the most valuable resource for all life on earth, yet it’s scarce in most parts of the world. Severe drought is a problem affecting not only developing regions but also major cities around the world.
Rainwater harvesting is an ancient water-collecting method that remains relevant today. It’s easier than ever to collect rainwater for later use, such as flushing the toilet, watering gardens, doing laundry, and even washing cars.
By prioritizing sustainability during your renovation project, installing a rainwater harvesting system on the roof will allow you to collect rainwater to keep your house clean. A rainwater harvesting system can save hundreds of litres of filtered water in a tank for later use.
3. Install Low-Flow Showerheads
In the water conservation process, replacing old showerheads with low-flow ones can help minimize your water usage. You will save on water bills, as this low-flow showerhead uses less water compared to conventional ones.
4. Use Energy-Efficient Appliances
Whether you are upgrading your refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, air cleaners, or dyers, replace energy-intensive home appliances with energy-efficient ones. You will save on utility bills after completing your renovation. Unlike conventional home appliances, these use less energy, which reduces your environmental impact and helps it recover.
5. Add a Filter to Your Kitchen Sink
Adding a filter to a kitchen sink is a practical way to make tap water safe for use, especially if the water quality is poor or has an unpleasant taste.
Poor tap water quality can lead to homeowners relying on plastic bottled water for cooking. While this may be understandable, continuous use of plastic bottled water will only contribute to more plastic waste.
Installing a filter in your kitchen sink solves the bad tap water problem without generating plastic waste. The world is already struggling with plastic pollution and bringing more of it into your home will worsen the situation.
6. Use a Compost
Another eco-friendly material for home improvement is a compost bin. Unplanned grocery shopping can lead to overbuying—and while some food can be preserved in a refrigerator, others, like potatoes, pickles, and avocados should not be refrigerated.
If these foods go bad, composting is better than throwing them into the trash. Leftovers, vegetable peels and other food scraps can also be composted. Composting produces a fine organic fertilizer that can be used in gardens or on farms.
If you don’t have a garden or farm, you can donate the compost to gardeners or farmers to grow their crops organically.
7. Create a Green Roof
A green roof helps to regulate indoor temperature on hot days. It’s typically a garden on your roof—a layer of greenery planted over a waterproofing system placed on the roof.
The soil layer atop the roof can hold plants like shrubs, trees, and small vegetable gardens, depending on the structural integrity of the building. Installing a small-scale green roof helps insulate your home, making the surroundings cooler, and helping you minimize energy costs.7
Your home renovation can include a green roof not only for its unique appearance but also for creating a more comfortable living environment with reduced heat.
8. Switch to Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
A sustainable home renovation project aims to reduce a home’s carbon footprint. The sustainability trend has encouraged manufacturers to prioritize eco-friendly products.
Now, eco-friendly cleaning products are available to ensure healthy cleaning. After upgrading home appliances to energy-efficient ones, it’s time to switch to eco-friendly products to keep your home clean without harming the environment.
Avoid using conventional cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals—as they can pollute the waterways and harm the aquatic ecosystems when they go down the drain after use. Choose sustainable products to complement your home. Buy from reliable brands that sell sustainable products.
DIY Project for Home Improvement
After the professionals are done with the renovation, you can add your personal touch to the interior part of your home with DIY projects.
You can repurpose abandoned items instead of discarding them. Let’s take an old dresser for example, you can use it as a plant stand to redecorate a space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sustainability Remodelling?
Eco-friendly home renovation offers an opportunity to transform an old living space into an energy-efficient home. Sustainable remodelling aims to reduce your home’s carbon footprint as effectively as possible.
What is the Best Design for a Sustainable House?
Sustainable home renovation design involves prioritizing home installations such as high-performance windows, solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, green roofs, energy-efficient appliances, eco-friendly painting, etc.
Conclusion
Home renovations are best done sustainably to minimize home carbon footprint. These installations are designed to make living spaces more energy-efficient. Choosing sustainable options for everything from flooring to lighting, painting, and other home installations not only ensures a cost-effective living space but also helps the planet recover.
Sources
- Kamari, A., Corrao, R., & Kirkegaard, P. H. (2017). Sustainability-focused decision-making in building renovation. International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, 6(2), 330–350. ↩︎
- 12 Eco-Friendly Home Improvements You can make | Top Tips | Checkatrade. (2024, May 10). Checkatrade. ↩︎
- Update or replace Windows. (n.d.). Energy.gov. ↩︎
- Volatile organic compounds’ impact on indoor air quality | US EPA. (2024, August 7). US EPA.
↩︎ - Glover, E. (2024, July 1). 8 Eco-Friendly Home Improvements and how they make a difference. Forbes Home. ↩︎
- Hgtv. (2020, February 20). Green remodeling: exterior and whole house. HGTV. ↩︎
- Card, N. (2020, September 23). 10 ways to renovate sustainably. The Guardian.
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