Renovating your home can be a very exciting experience. While it can also be daunting, it’s thrilling to see your vision for a new home take shape before your eyes.
That said, it’s also worth noting that home renovations tend to generate a substantial amount of waste. They also typically require the use of substantial resources. If you’re not careful, your home renovation could end up adversely impacting the environment to a greater degree than you’re comfortable with.
That doesn’t need to happen. There are many steps you can take to ensure your home renovation is as environmentally-friendly as possible. They include the following:
Using a Local Skip Hire or Waste Collection Service
Again, odds are good your home renovation will generate a lot of waste in a range of forms. Some of it may consist of items you found in your home that you no longer need. More often, though, it will likely take the form of debris from various materials that were demolished and/or used in the construction phases of your renovation.
You need to make sure you dispose of these materials in an environmentally-friendly manner. The problem is, most homeowners typically don’t have bins large enough for this amount of waste.
That’s why you should use a yard skip instead. With help from a skip hire and/or waste recycling business, you can dispose of all materials thoroughly, efficiently, and most importantly, safely.
Worried that the skip hire’s cost will put you over your budget? This probably something you don’t need to be concerned about. We offer a range of skip sizes and options, making it easy to find one that fits both your needs and your price range.
Consider Second-Hand Furniture
When you renovate your home, you’ll likely want to upgrade to new fixtures and furnishings in various areas. This is key to genuinely transforming the space.
However, if you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact, consider buying second-hand furniture instead of totally new items when you make these upgrades.
Quite simply, creating a new piece of furniture requires resources. If you buy a new item, that creates more demand for new items, creating an additional need to use these resources.
That’s not the case when you buy second-hand furniture. Additionally, second-hand furniture is usually less expensive than new items. By choosing it, you’re saving money, while also protecting the planet. It’s a beneficial situation for everyone.
Of course, as you renovate your home, you may find there are certain existing pieces of furniture that will no longer fit in with the new design. Don’t simply throw these away! Doing so is too wasteful when you have so many other options.
You could find ways to repurpose this old furniture, you could sell it yourself (once again earning money), or you could simply give it away to someone who could use these items. Either way, make a plan ahead of time, so you don’t find yourself randomly discarding furniture and fixtures that no longer suit your needs.
Of course, if the furniture is so old or badly-damaged that no one will find a use for it, depending on its size and the materials with which it was made, you could still dispose of it in a more environmentally-friendly way by coordinating with a local yard skip hire company that prioritises waste recycling.
Consider Unique Upgrades & Design Ideas
Keep in mind that renovating your home gives you the unique opportunity to make long-term upgrades that may be more environmentally-friendly than your previous home was. These are options to consider when planning your renovation.
For example, perhaps you want to add solar panels to your house. This will help provide you with energy in a less resource-intensive manner than your older systems may have. You could also consider using environmentally-friendly materials such as bamboo in certain rooms.
Obviously, you’re reading this because you want to ensure the renovation process itself has as little negative impact on the environment as possible. However, you should also remember that after the renovation is over, you could have a new home that also has minimal environmental impact.
You may also be installing many new appliances in your home during the renovation. If this is the case, research your options to learn which are most energy-efficient. As technology improves, appliances are able to function reliably and consistently without using as much energy as they once did.
Upgrading to these energy-efficient models is yet another way you can help the planet while also saving money in the long run. The less energy your appliances use, the lower your overall bills will be.
Consider Strategic Window Placements
Home renovations also tend to involve changing the size and/or placement of certain windows, or adding new windows altogether.
This is another instance in which you have the opportunity to make environmentally-friendly changes and upgrades.
First of all, window technology is like appliance technology: as it improves, manufacturers have found ways to design windows that are more energy-efficient than earlier types. This is primarily due to the way in which they insulate your home. Again, you’ll save money with a well-insulated home, as you’ll have less need to run your heating and cooling equipment often.
You should also consider how strategic window sizes and placements can further boost your home’s efficiency, reducing your bills while protecting the environment as a result. For example, is there a room you’re planning for your home where you’ll likely spend large periods of time during the day? Perhaps you work from home (whether full-time or on the side), and want a new home office to help you stay productive.
In this case, you might plan to install a relatively large, energy-efficient window in this room. Doing so serves a number of purposes. The large window will let in more natural light, making it less necessary for you to rely on artificial light during the day.
Additionally, it’s been shown that exposure to natural light tends to have a positive impact on the average person’s mood and productivity. Thus, by installing windows in an environmentally-friendly manner, you’ll design a room where you can easily stay focused.
Of course, this same principle applies to rooms where you might not be trying to stay productive. After all, you’ll probably want there to be a room in your home where you can relax and spend time with family. If large windows let in natural light, you’ll be more likely to enjoy these experiences to the fullest. The fact that you’ll also be protecting the environment is nearly an added bonus.
Research Your Paint Options
A home renovation almost always involves a substantial amount of painting. Although most consumer paints are relatively safe from an environmental perspective, some are safer than others. You may want to research your options thoroughly to avoid buying any that contain potentially harmful ingredients.
This isn’t simply about protecting the environment! There are instances in which chemical compounds found in paints caused adverse reactions when used in confined spaces without sufficient ventilation. While the symptoms they generate tend to be relatively mild, such as dizziness, using these paints could make your home renovation a more difficult and uncomfortable process than it needs to be.
Make Changes to Existing Features
It’s simple: the less changes you make during a home renovation, the less resources you’ll need to use. That’s good for the environment.
Keep this in mind when making your initial plans. There will likely be instances in which you could make effective changes to your home without actually buying new furnishings and fixtures.
Perhaps you’re relatively satisfied with the shape and placement of your current kitchen cabinets. They might simply not match the design style you’ve envisioned. However, with a new paint job and/or finish, they theoretically could. This might be a better option if you’re trying to reduce your environmental impact. As with many of these points, this option would also save you money.
Remember this during your initial planning. Every step of the way, consider how making slight changes to existing features might be a smarter plan than making full upgrades.
Get Help from the Skip Experts
At Batesy Skip Hire Ltd, serving Belfast and the Great Belfast Area, we want you to enjoy your home renovation! We also want to provide you with a yard skip to make the process easier. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us today.
