It can be tricky to strike the right balance when updating your home. Do you choose a more modern look or stick to the more traditional style? Do you opt for comfort or aesthetics? And what about the sustainability angle? But ending up with a house that looks stylish, but is more eco-friendly than before is not as tricky as it sounds.
Here are some helpful tips that will help you do just that. As you will see, there are plenty of ways to update your home while making it more eco-friendly at the same time. Keep reading to learn more about the best green home improvements you can do to increase your home’s sustainability.
Use Natural Materials
You can do small things to be more planet conscious in your home, from the cutlery you pick to which mattress you lay your head on at night. But one of the best ways to update your home’s style and make it more eco-friendly at the same time is by using natural materials for your home’s decorative elements. Not only will this look great, but it will also be much easier to maintain.
Another way to make your home more eco-friendly and luxurious is using silk bedding sheets. Silk is wonderfully gentle for both your skin and the environment. Sidenelma always uses mulberry silk, a natural material from the silk cocoon of the mulberry butterfly. Silk uses few resources, is resistant to pollutants, and is environmentally sustainable over time. And silk is the most popular for pillowcases, sheets, luxury bedding, and accessories due to its incredible softness and comfort.
Install Energy-Efficient Windows
If your home does not have energy-efficient windows yet, updating them is a great way to make it more eco-friendly. Windows are one of the most significant sources of energy loss in homes. In addition, they allow direct sunlight to enter your home, so you need to have more lights to cover the electricity used if you do not have efficient ones.
Updating them is an excellent green home improvement. Energy-efficient windows come in a wide range of styles and shapes, from traditional to contemporary. They can also come in several different colors, perfect for updating your home without sacrificing style. Head to a reputable company like cswindowreplacement.com for more information.
Use Non-Toxic Paint
One of the easiest ways to update your home’s style is painting. But if you want to be more eco-conscious, you should opt for non-toxic variants of paint. While you may not notice the difference right away, the paint will slowly break down and cause less environmental impact over time.
The best paints for modern homes are low-VOC, zero-VOC, and water-based paints. These paints are non-toxic, preventing you from breathing in harmful gases while you are inside your home. Another great thing about these paints is that they are incredibly water-resistant. This means that they are perfect for areas with high humidity, like your bathroom. This is especially helpful for people who struggle with indoor allergies.
Install Solar Panels
Another excellent way to update your home’s style and make it more eco-friendly at the same time is by installing solar panels on your roof. While installing solar panels on your roof is an excellent green home improvement, it also has some drawbacks. The good news is that you can use them as a backup energy source. If the grid goes down, you will still have energy coming from the sun.
The bad news is that solar panels are an investment, so you need to save up money before you start installing them. This investment also means that you need to be prepared for some manual labor, which is not always ideal for people with busy schedules. But the investment is well worth the cost down the line. And if you are worried about the way they look, do not. Solar panels have come a long way since their first inception. So there are plenty of styles and sizes you can choose from that look more luxurious.
Incorporate Anaerobic Or Fermentation Beds
Another way to make your home more eco-friendly is by incorporating anaerobic or fermentation beds into your landscaping. Fermentation beds are great for eliminating excess moisture from the air. They are made of a mixture of manure and straw, which reduces the amount of water needed for irrigation. An anaerobic bed is made of sand, peat, and sphagnum moss. The moss traps excess moisture from the air, preventing it from reaching your lawn.
These beds are great for increasing your home’s sustainability while also making it look more stylish. You can purchase pre-made beds or create your own using a mixture of soil, straw, and manure. You can plant either flowers or vegetables in the beds to create the perfect look.
Install A Geothermal Heating And Cooling System
Another excellent way to update your home’s style and make it more eco-friendly is installing a geothermal heating and cooling system. Geothermal systems are ideal for reducing your home’s electricity bill and carbon footprint. This system uses the earth’s natural heat to heat or cool your home. You can choose between a central and a distributed system or even combine the two. The two main types of geothermal systems are ground source and anaerobic systems.
The good thing about these systems is that they are highly customizable. Depending on your home’s layout and size, you can choose the best method for your needs.
Turn Your Lights Into LEDs
LED lights are highly energy-efficient and durable. This means that they can last up to 50 times longer than incandescent lights and 10 times longer than fluorescent lights. They are also incredibly lightweight and waterproof, two things that make them perfect for updates to your home’s style.
There are plenty of benefits to updating your home’s style by turning your lights into LEDs. For one thing, they are much more affordable than the alternatives. In addition, they are much easier to install and maintain. They also produce very little heat, meaning that they are more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than other types of lights.
Add A Green Roof
A green roof is a luxury form of roofing that uses plants to absorb excess water from the air and redirect it back into your home. This is great for both your home and the environment, as it saves on water, reduces dust, and prevents soil erosion. They are also relatively inexpensive and easy to install, making them a perfect addition to your home’s eco-friendly home improvements.
A green roof is a great way to make your home more eco-friendly. This type of roof comprises different plants and materials and is in place of your typical roof. It is ideal for homes located in areas with high humidity, as it allows you to keep your home’s humidity levels high. It is also perfect for outdoor use, as you can place plants on it to increase the biodiversity of your backyard. Plus, they look fantastic.
Use Eco-Friendly Flooring
Choosing eco-friendly flooring for your home is another excellent way to make your home more eco-friendly. Different types of flooring are made from different kinds of materials and are perfect for indoor use.
You can also find flooring made from renewable resources, so they perfectly fit our planet’s ever-weakening resources. You can choose from different types of flooring made from corn, bamboo, and other plants. These materials are more off the beaten track. This makes your home’s decor stand out as a talking point. So you can be happy in the knowledge that your home looks great and is saving the planet.
Add Plants (Indoors And Out)
Planting a variety of plants in your home helps the environment in several ways. First, it makes your home smell unique. Second, it helps to create a healthier and more green indoor environment.
You can also choose from a wide range of perfect plants for our planet’s changing climate. This includes tropical and subtropical plants, as well as desert plants. These plants are perfect for increasing your home’s sustainability. So, what are you waiting for? Start planting today.
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