Making your home green can be easier and more simple than you think. If you are ready to make your home more eco-friendly, here are 10 great ideas you might want to explore.
Install Cork Flooring
If you are ready to replace the flooring in your home, consider cork flooring. Not only is it eco-friendly, it is also very durable and comfortable to walk on. You can select from a wide variety of different colors and designs when purchasing cork flooring and you don’t have to use toxic adhesives to install it.
Use Carpet Tiles
Carpet tiles are also a more eco-friendly alternative to purchasing traditional carpeting. Often, these carpets are made from recyclable materials. In addition, if a portion of your carpet becomes stained or damaged beyond repair, you can easily replace just the area in need of repair rather than replacing the entire carpet.
Bypass the Carpet Padding
If you absolutely do not want to use carpet tiles, you might want to consider skipping on the carpet padding when laying down your new carpet. Not only does installation of carpet padding require additional labor, it also means using more materials and bringing more chemicals into your house.
Reuse and Refinish
When it comes to replacing floors, cabinetry and other materials, consider refurbishing and reusing rather than replacing. Not only will this help the environment, it will save you money as well.
Install a Dual Flush Toilet
Dual flush toilets offer two different flush settings so you can choose the one that best suits your flushing needs. Choose from between 1.6 gallons when you need more power or a .8 gallon flush when you don’t need quite as much.
Use Non-VOC Paints
Using non-VOC paint, which is also referred to as non-volatile organic chemical paint, is another eco-friendly alternative. Not only are VOCs not very eco-friendly, they aren’t very healthy either. So, do yourself and the planet a favor by purchasing paint without VOCs.
Use Organic Bedding
Using organic bedding is another great way to add some extra pizzazz to your bedroom while also keeping it eco-friendly. Search for bedding that is not treated with formaldehyde, which is not only harmful to the environment, but is bad for your health as well.
Purchase an Eco-Friendly Mattress
If it is time to buy a new mattress, you might also want to search for one that is made from earth-friendly materials, such as natural latex rubber.
Utilize Solar Power
Every time you make an improvement to your home, you should also consider how you can tap into the power of solar energy. If you are replacing a water heater, for example, consider purchasing one that is powered through solar energy. This will help reduce your energy usage, which helps the environment while also helping you save money. It will also ensure that you have warm water even when the power is out.
Use Energy Star Appliances
If you are replacing appliances, you can help save energy by purchasing those that have the Energy Star rating. These appliances typically save 10% or more of the energy used by traditional appliances.
Again, you share really useful information here. Many of these tips I was not aware of before. I love doing efficient, eco-friendly things… one day I hope to get more solar powered in our home. We have replaced all our lights to the energy saving LED/CFL lights. It makes a lot of sense, since it also saves money.