Guest Blogger: How to Upgrade your Home with Eco-Friendly Amenities

 Guest Blogger #291, Entry #824, December 9, 2011

Although most of us purchase homes that are already built, that doesn’t mean that we can’t arrange and fill our spaces in a way that is in keeping with our eco-friendly sensibilities.  And of course, upgrades and additions to an existing structure can also be performed in a manner that is less harmful to the environment.  So if you’re interested in implementing a design process in your new home that allows you to reduce your carbon footprint along the way, here are a few tips and tricks that will get you on track to meet all of your home design goals.

Green your home with worthwhile upgrades

Image via: UUL Design

Furnishings

Now that you’ve got your interior prepped it’s time for some fun with decorating.  If you have furnishings that you love already, consider keeping them and simply giving them an upgrade with new upholstery or a coat of paint.  And if you need new pieces, consider supporting area craftspeople or purchasing from companies that create environmentally friendly furnishings.

Walls

The absolute easiest way to give your interior spaces a facelift is to paint the walls, and it’s easy to add some panache with low- or no-VOC paint products.  These hues eschew volatile organic compounds that could pollute your indoor air for years to come and cause respiratory problems (and far worse).  And with all of the options for colors, finishes, and more you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to personalizing your home.

Wall interiors are an easy eco-friendly upgrade

Image via: Ikrunk

Flooring

Another popular upgrade for most homes is flooring.  And while this process can be exceedingly harmful to the planet, there are definitely ways to green it up.  For example, rather than sending old flooring to the landfill, see if it can be recycled.  Synthetic-fiber carpets can be steam-cleaned and sold as remnants (as long as your cat hasn’t been using them for a litter box) and flooring tiles or planks can potentially be refurbished and resold.  As for the new flooring you put in, consider using eco-friendly products like faux stone, reclaimed hardwood, or organic-fiber carpeting.

Storage

It’s easy to go green with cabinetry.  If your cupboards are structurally sound and meet your requirements for functionality, there’s no need to replace them.  Simply upgrade with a new stain or a coat of paint or have them refaced for less waste.  And if they must go, look into options for recycling (sell them for refurbishing and resale or pawn them off for scrap).  And when you purchase new cabinets, consider reclaimed options; you can get beautiful hardwoods at a fraction of the cost and reduce the demand for deforestation.

Lighting

Natural light is always best, so consider knocking out a few walls to create that open floor plan you’ve been dreaming of, or simply place a variety of mirrors strategically throughout the space to bounce light everywhere (alleviating the need for electrical lighting throughout the day).  And for evenings, install energy saving CFLs (which fit standard fixtures) or even more-efficient LEDs.

Natural lighting can save energy and beautify your interiors

Accessories

The finishing touches, like lamps, linens, and so on can also be surprisingly green.  Linens (curtains, throws, pillows, etc.) made from organic fabrics are a must.  And for a few quirky pieces to decorate your space, hit up garage sales, thrift stores, and Craigslist with a creative eye.  You’d be surprised what you can do with a few bucks and a little ingenuity.

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for MorrisonHershfield, the leader in innovative, eco-friendly and cost effective engineering projects.

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