If your home looks old and worn-out, and you are considering to give it a quick facelift or complete makeover, it is important to make sure you are not causing any harm to the environment while doing good to your home. Do a favour to yourself and the Mother Nature by planning out sustainable renovation in order to optimise available resources and save money.
Here are a few tips to help you in this regard.
Plan ahead
Sustainable renovation starts early on, even before hiring the renovation contractor. Identify your needs and plan accordingly. Planning gives you better clarity on your property refurbishment project and minimises wastage. You may also consult with your renovation expert to create a sustainable plan according to your property’s architecture. Ideally, your plan should be flexible enough to accommodate any changes during the process, without affecting the budget.
Read online resources such as this DIY remodeling guide to help you in making your plan.
Make yourself heard and understood
When you hire a renovation expert, walk them through your plans and intentions so that they can create a blueprint and deliver the project within your set parameters. It pays to get a second opinion, especially when the person has hands-on experience of the trade.
Be careful during demolition
If any portion of your home is being knocked down, stay clear of the debris and dust, for they might contain a huge amount of asbestos and lead, especially when your home is older than a decade. Asbestos and lead, if inhaled, can cause serious health issues. Therefore, enclose the area using plastic sheets to make sure no amount of asbestos dust is released into the environment.
Recycle
Recycling is a vital part of a sustainable renovation model. Wherever possible, reuse existing fixtures from your bathroom, kitchen or living room. If your furniture is in good condition, you can reuse it to save money and keep a lot of timber from going into the trash. To dispose of renovation waste and leftovers, hire an eco-friendly skip bin service for your peace of mind.
Choose your new appliances wisely
If your bathroom and kitchen appliances have been there for over a decade, it’s time to replace them with the new ones, because old, greasy appliances don’t look good in contemporary settings. Consider buying only 5-star rated appliances to minimize your carbon footprints on the environment and reduce monthly energy bills.
Nowadays, Solar-powered appliances are easily available on the market, and when it comes to indoor and outdoor lighting, LED lamps are undoubtedly the best option. LEDs and Solar-powered appliances are a one-time investment which goes on without maintenance for years.
Make your newly renovated home energy-efficient
Homes which are built a decade ago may not be as energy efficient as homes built today. Now that you are renovating to contemporary standards, ensure proper insulation around the home to bring your monthly energy bills down and maintain desired cooling or heating long after the unit is turned off. Also, make sure your newly renovated home has proper ventilation and exhaust to let the fresh air come in and stale air out.
Choice of construction material
If you are concerned about the environment, eco-friendly construction material should be the top choice for your home renovation project. Whether you are buying timber for decking or benchtops for kitchen, consider sourcing from a sustainable business. The cost of eco-friendly products may be high, but the guilt will be less. When it comes to painting, choose water-based paints over oil-based paints, because the former is less toxic and gives a superb finish to your home.
Conclusion
These sustainable tips can make a whole lot of difference to any renovation project and also saves time and money.
Author Bio : Rebecca Pryor is managing director of A&A Skip Hire –one of North London’s leading provider of domestic and commercial skips.
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