9 Green Trends Redefining Home Renovation

Renovating your home is quite the project, but it’s usually well worth the effort afterward. What will make it even more rewarding is that you’ve succeeded in doing so in ways that benefit the environment. Several trends are currently redefining green home renovation.

1. Reusing and Recycling

It makes sense to reuse and recycle where possible. If you’re taking on the renovations yourself, it’s wise to consider where and how you can save money by using existing items, especially if they’re sentimental or indicate who you are.

Reinvent that old sofa by reupholstering it, or sand and stain the dining room table. If you decide to change everything, there are greener ways to do it than buying everything new from home improvement depots. Surf online marketplaces for rustically attractive pieces that may maintain your individuality. Second-hand furniture and DIY thrift stores also carry hidden gems. If they’re upcyclers, it’s even better.

Consider reselling, donating or recycling what you choose to part with. Your unwanted items should stay valuable to somebody rather than contributing to the world’s massive solid waste problem by lying in a landfill somewhere.

2. Investing in Solar Panels

The international trend toward solar photovoltaic (PV) panel installation makes solar a primary consideration for home renovators. Installing adequate solar panels reduces your energy costs substantially while still heating water, lighting your home, cooking, running fans and electronics and keeping emergency batteries powered. 

Switching to solar power means more sustainable, cleaner power production. Unlike fossil fuels, this energy source doesn’t emit greenhouse gasses. As a result, you’re reducing your carbon footprint by installing some panels.

Moreover, as part of a government initiative to encourage eco-friendly living, the federal residential solar energy credit offers homeowners a 30% tax credit on all solar PV systems installed between 2022 and 2032. The credit includes all solar panels and cells, installation costs, and energy storage of 3 kWh or greater.

3. Using Sustainable Materials

Reduce your carbon footprint by using sustainable materials wherever you can. Manufacturers create these with a lower carbon footprint, so fewer greenhouse gasses are present in their production.

Are you replacing your floors or considering erecting a new deck? The renovation trend is shifting toward bamboo, as using this regenerating grass saves more trees, making it an eco-friendly alternative. If you’re considering natural insulation, new tiles or countertops, cork creates a natural look, is lightweight and easy to manipulate.

4. Utilizing Reclaimed Materials

When you renovate, using reclaimed materials goes a long way to add some personality to your efforts and keep up with the eco-friendly trend as well. For example, medium-density fiberboard is trending among designers and consumers because it’s one of the most sustainable choices. This solid and attractive recycled wood is lightweight and colorful. 

Some other types of reclaimed materials you could consider include:

• Paving and other stones
• Window frames
• Bricks
• Light fittings
• Upcycled furniture and furnishings
• Metal
• Glass

Utilizing reclaimed materials rather than new ones reduces energy consumption from manufacturing. You’ll contribute to a more sustainable living environment while conserving natural resources and minimizing landfill waste. Also, you’re supporting a more eco-friendly sector of the construction industry.

5. Upgrading to Energy-Efficient Appliances

It’s logical to add some brand-new appliances when you renovate your home. Your sparkling new laundry room and kitchen look much better with a new cooker and laundry washer, don’t they?

Besides the long-term utility cost reductions new household appliances bring, they also make sense from an environmental sustainability perspective — as long as they’re models with Energy Star ratings. By investing in them, you’re reducing your carbon footprint and ensuring fewer harmful gas emissions contribute to global warming. You’ll also enjoy the included tax rebates.

Again, if you’re parting with your old appliances, reuse or recycle them wherever you can. One person’s trash is another one’s treasure.

6. Considering Tankless Water Heaters

Like home appliances, tankless water heaters with Energy Star certification conform to environmentally sustainable standards. These power savers work by heating water without using a tank to hold it like your regular heater does. By only switching on when you need hot water, they substantially cut down on energy use and carbon emissions

Depending on your power source, an electric or gas burner heats cold water as it flows through a built-in heat exchanger. As long as there’s electricity, you and your family should always have hot water.

  7. Investigating Green Roofing

Green roofing is sadly not an alternative for every home, but you should look into your options as a way to combat the rising temperatures climate change has generated. If you can use one, you can reduce your indoor temperatures by as much as 59 degrees Fahrenheit during those sweltering summer months. In turn, your house becomes more energy-efficient by reducing air conditioning and other needs.

If you have a flat roof or gradual slope, the vegetation-based green roof sits atop waterproofing layered over your existing roof. It’s climate-resistant and has several benefits besides cutting costs:

• Sun, rain and wind protection
• A rainwater buffer
• Internal air purification
• Indoor and ambient air regulation
• Urban biodiversity benefits

Green roofing also supports pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are essential to an eco-friendly environment. If you and your neighbors can investigate these roofing alternatives, you may also be able to cut down on smog and other air pollutants in your area, thanks to the plants drawing them in.

8. Harvesting Rainwater

Rainwater harvesting has been around for centuries and is a common practice in many emerging countries. With renewed emphasis on saving the world’s most precious natural resource, more American organizations and homeowners are following other nations’ lead.

Even if you only use the water to fill the pool or water your lawn, it’s a way of saving you didn’t have before. However, if you do plan to drink it and stop buying water, just remember to treat it before doing so to avoid getting sick.

You’ll quickly notice how using rainwater positively impacts your water bill.

9. Installing Aluminum Doors and Windows

Environmental trends have moved quickly and aggressively toward using aluminum doors and windows in new buildings and renovations. The metal is lightweight, immensely strong and incredibly recyclable, so it’s highly regarded in architectural circles worldwide.

Known in the building industry as ‘green doors and windows,’ they cut down heat in summer and retain warmth during the colder months. Standard raw materials used for these fittings pale compared to aluminum’s eco-friendly qualities and benefits.

Aluminum offers flexible design options, cost-effective, low-maintenance aesthetic appeal and a sustainable impact second to none. Joining this green trend will benefit both you and the environment.

Keep up With the Trends by Going Green

You can save a small fortune by being more energy-efficient and taking advantage of available tax credits and rebates, so consider following these green trends and building these into your renovation budget. Both you and the environment will reap the rewards in the long term.