Green Living Tips: The Home Renovator

We kicked off this sustainability series with posts featuring The Animal Lover and The Outdoor Enthusiast. Those eco-friendly tips — and the ones we’ll share throughout the rest of this series — are useful for people passionate about making the world a better place.

With this third post in the series, we’re focusing on The Home Renovator. If you don’t have a very planet-friendly home, you can change that by starting on projects that feature sustainability.

Change the colors.

Paint ingredients have impacts on you and the environment. Update the rooms in your home using sustainable paint free of VOCs — airborne chemicals that affect your health. Go for the paints made out of recycled, natural, or bio-based content.

Lay down non-toxic carpet.

Look for carpets made of natural fibers (like wool or seagrass) with low VOC — chemicals bad for both the environment and your health. When installing, use non-petroleum-based padding and low-VOC glue to optimize this green renovation.

Invest in the kitchen.

Start by replacing major appliances with ones focused on energy efficiency. Watch for ENERGY STAR^® models, which are certified to reduce energy use. Take it a step further by recycling or reselling your older models.

When it comes to the windows, counters or floors, opt for sustainably-sourced or recycled materials to make your kitchen greener.

Plant a green garden.

A sustainable garden has two parts — creating an organic environment, plus conserving resources. Native plants, grass clippings, kitchen waste and rain water are examples of sustainable resources that don’t hurt the planet. This easy-to-care-for garden not only nourishes you and your family, but it minimally depletes resources.

Install low-flush toilets.

These toilets decrease your water use and help your water bill — using only 1.5 gallons of water per flush as opposed to the six gallons regular toilets use. By using less ground water, you can conserve natural resources.

Home improvements can be rewarding for the planet — all while increasing your selling value. What’s next in our sustainability series? We’ll feature Green Living Tips for The Foodie and show you how to enjoy your snacks and meals in eco-friendly ways.