Being more eco-friendly is something we should all try to do, and when it comes to our homes, this is an excellent place to start. Even the smallest of changes can make a big, positive difference, and if we all do it, that difference will be even greater.
It can be hard to determine exactly how to get started when it comes to being more environmentally friendly. Read on for some excellent eco-friendly home improvement trends that will help your home become greener and keep it current.
Solar Energy
One of the biggest drains on the environment is the world’s energy usage, so if you can switch your current energy to something more sustainable, that will help a great deal. One option – perhaps the easiest when it comes to your home – is to install solar panels. When you do this, you can improve your home’s energy efficiency and potentially save money on your energy bills at the same time. It’s no wonder that this is one of the top eco-friendly home improvement trends.
The only issue with this idea is that it can be fairly costly, to begin with. Of course, the idea is that over time the solar panels will pay for themselves thanks to the savings they’ll bring, but at the outset, you still need to have the money to pay for them. Why not consider applying for a loan for home improvement if this is an issue? You’ll be able to get the work done more quickly and start not only being more eco-friendly, but saving money on your utilities too. These loans allow you to pay for your project over a longer period of time, often at a lower interest rate than a credit card.
Energy Efficient Lighting
Another issue with many homes is the lighting that’s used within them. It can be costly, especially when lights are left on a lot of the time (it’s so easy to forget to turn them off), and if you’re using a lot of energy, this is bad for the environment.
If you switch to more energy-efficient bulbs, such as LED bulbs, you can use up to ninety percent less energy than with standard bulbs. This is fantastic; you’re helping the environment, and your household costs will go down at the same time. Plus, when it comes to quick and easy fixes, changing your light bulbs is one of the top eco-friendly home improvements trends you can follow.
Use Recycled Items
When you are looking at buying new furniture or any kind of home décor, it’s likely you’ll think about buying brand new items. However, one of the top eco-friendly home improvement trends is actually to use recycled items instead.
This could mean picking wallpaper made of recycled materials or carpet in the same vein, for example. Perhaps you could opt for reclaimed kitchen surfaces. Maybe the furniture you use is old but has been upcycled (or perhaps you would like to do the upcycling yourself). There are many options and many advantages to doing this. Firstly, you’ll prevent items from being taken to a landfill. Secondly, your home will look great thanks to all the unique things inside it. So the next time you need to update your home or buy a new piece of furniture, think second-hand before new, and you can be much more eco-friendly.
