Sustainability has become the norm of corporations in 2024. But now, the idea of eco-friendly lifestyle has trickled down into commercial and residential home spaces as well. Today, people are not only heavily investing in homes that are created sustainably, but they’re also upgrading and renovating their homes in a sustainable way.

The idea behind it is to reduce our carbon footprint, make energy efficiency a priority and create healthier living environments. Not only is creating a sustainable home good for the environment, but also reduces your monthly consumption thereby helping you save big bucks, and increases your home value in the long run.

If you’re someone who wants to upgrade your home in an environmentally-conscious way, here are seven ways to achieve sustainability in your way of living through eco-friendly home improvements.

7 Eco-Friendly Upgrades For Your Home

Choose Eco-Friendly Materials For Construction
Eco-friendly home improvements begin the moment you choose to renovate your home with sustainable construction materials. If you really want to make a big difference in how your home is renovated, choose recycled materials that either have positive environmental impacts or don’t cause any harm in the long run, such as by releasing harmful chemicals and fumes.

For instance, cob is highly energy efficient and known for natural insulation properties. Recycled steel is perfect for constructing durable structures while sheep’s wool is easy to source and highly energy efficient. Reclaimed wood has become an aesthetically pleasing material to have at renovations, whereas bamboo is biodegradable, anti-bacterial and high strength. Some other sustainable renovation materials include recycled plastic, hempcrete, rammed earth, corks, and straw bales.

Make Use Of Solar Energy
To make the most of your sustainable renovations, you can install solar panels in your home. These solar panels can help you get hot water through solar water heaters, and even heat up the air inside your home or run your air conditioners. You can also use smart thermostats that work in accordance with the solar energy that your home is receiving to manage the temperature in the house. This solar energy can not only be used for cooking, but can also be stored for later use, especially in illuminating your home and keeping the equipment running in case of power shortage.

If you live in Montana, choosing solar energy for your energy efficiency needs is the best way to go. The solar industry of the state is only getting bigger, which means using solar panels and installing natural sources of energy can help you make a real difference. These solar panels can be used to generate electricity and heat for almost all the energy needs of your home. And of course, the natural light offered by the sun is an essential means of living.

Light Up Your Home With LED Lighting
While Incandescent bulbs have been used for way too long, owing to their aesthetic looks, the cost of choosing looks over sustainability is costing our environment. The common bulbs found in light fixtures are known for releasing harmful chemicals in the environment. That’s why it’s essential to make the switch to LED bulbs, especially when you’re looking for ways to make your home more energy efficient and sustainable. The light emitting diode or LED is known to have a positive impact on the environment and on your pocket, because these lights last a lot longer than normal bulbs. So if you’re planning to install some new light fixtures in your home, choosing LED bulbs to go with them is the right choice.

Install Energy-Efficient Windows And Doors
An essential part of eco-friendly home improvements include renovating your windows and doors to make them more sustainable. To do so, you can caulking and weatherstrips on your windows to trap heat and make the indoor environment cold resistant. You can also install window inserts to trap air in the indoor environment, keeping it insulated as a part of sustainable home improvements. Window and aluminum materials can be the best options for creating sustainable window spaces.

For renovating the doors, use doors with energy star labels. You can also use vinyl, fiberglass, or other naturally sourced materials to create durable and temperature resistant doors. To avoid air from passing through, you can use weatherstrips on your doors.

Adopt Water Conservation Strategies
Water is a renewable resource when used in the right way. Overuse or misuse of this life-saving resource can cost us all our lives. So if you’re investing in sustainable home renovations and eco-friendly home improvements, finding ways to conserve water can reduce your energy bills and energy usage.

For example, rainwater harvesting can be adopted in urban areas to prevent soil erosion and flooding, while growing drought-tolerant plants can be perfect for areas that receive little to no rainfall. To make your home eco-friendly, opt for smart water-dependant appliances such as heatless water tanks, smart washing machines, and low-flow toilets. Just like programmable thermostats, these appliances can help in energy saving, reduced heat loss, and water usage.

Create An Eco-Friendly Fireplace
When creating an eco-friendly fireplace, use as little wood as possible to avoid soot formation and enhance the heat radiation. Also, focus on burning the wood completely as it’ll emit low CO2 when burned this way. You also need to ensure enough oxygen for proper burning, clean out the chimneys properly for a good draft and use local firewood instead of expensive ones bought from outside.

With a little focus on items such as cast iron fireback and only using the fireplace when there’s enough air flow outside, you can create a gorgeous fireplace right in your home. When done right, it can keep your home warm and comfortable during the winter season and can become a part of your eco-friendly home improvements.

Paint Your Home Sustainably
The paint that we use in our home has a high concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which can be harmful to the environment as well as your health. Instead opt for paints with water and plant based formula to reduce the concentration of VOCs and keep your home shiny.

Add a fresh coat of clay or earth-based paints to add a rustic look to your home renovations. For an antique-style finish, milk paints can be perfect. Not only do they offer an aesthetically pleasing look but are also biodegradable in nature and non-toxic. Some other options that you can consider are organic paints, recycled paints, and paints sourced from local painters.

3 Sustainable Winter-Care Tips For Exteriors Of Your Home

Winter-Proof Your Home’s Exterior
With the winter season upon us, renovating your home from inside out should be your priority. If you want to winter-proof your home from outside, look for a home maintenance expert to conduct an audit of your home’s exterior to see what needs to be repaired beforehand.

Afterwards, look for spaces that need insulation and may cause drafts in winters. Seal them shut using appropriate sustainable materials. Also, don’t forget to clean out the gutters and roof using power washing before the winter season, or you’ll be creating frost all over the exterior of your house.

Take Care Of Your Garden
To take care of your garden and green space during the winter season, start by trimming out the excess branches and trees that may break due to strong winds and storms. To prevent frost heaving from destroying your plants and soil, use mulching technique or thick landscaping fabrics from places like Pro Fabric Supply and GeoTextile Membranes for professional grade fabric.

Move all the small potted plants indoors if possible and harvest whatever fruits and vegetables are ready before winter. To keep the soil healthy, you must water the plants before the winter season. The moisture will prevent them from falling apart as the season quickly turns cold.

Protect Your Deck And Patio
More often than not, when preparing our home’s exterior for winter, we forget the places surrounding it. So, your driveways, deck, patios, and bear the brunt of the weather. To avoid any cracks and damage during the winter weather, fill out all gaps in these outdoor structures using concrete sealing. You can also cover them up and take any furniture such as tables and chairs that are lying outside and store them in the garage to avoid them from being damaged.

Final Thoughts
Choosing to go green and adopt eco-friendly practices in your home renovations can prove to be environmentally, physically and financially beneficial for you. By choosing sustainable materials, using natural sources of energy, installing energy efficient equipment, and saving water through smart strategies, you can make a ton of difference in the way your home is renovated. Apart from that, including sustainable winter-care for the exterior of your home can also be a smart move to ensure that your home is created cautiously, both inside and out.