Keep it Green: Top Tips for Environment-Conscious Home Improvements

Nobody enjoys the process of having improvement or construction work completed at their home.  While the end product may be exciting enough to endure the process, having our house as a construction site — in any capacity — can make us feel stressed, unsettled and messy.  However, even if your home looks a little disorganised for your taste during the building period, there are several ways you can ensure that you remain environmentally-conscious the whole time.  At least you can feel green, even if the construction site doesn't look that way!

Hire a Skip

While many builders do this as standard procedure, you should definitely ensure there are skip bins to house all construction waste during the course of your project.  Not only does this keep all refuse together in one place, and perhaps keep your home looking a little tidier, it also protects the environment from that waste.  Firstly, it keeps it nicely gathered together for easy, environment-conscious disposal after the project is complete — but it also means that it's nicely contained and cannot go astray or affect animal environments in the meantime.

Limit Air Conditioning Waste

If you have workers walking in and out of your home frequently, meaning that the door is often open, you're likely to be losing a lot of energy.  The longer your door is left open, your air conditioning will have to work much harder to cool your home.  To combat this, consider switching off the air conditioning in rooms which are frequently left open to the outdoors as people head in and out.  If the heat is oppressive, a couple of strategically-placed floor fans are a great temporary alternative that won't put so much strain on your AC system.

Consider Environmentally-Friendly Options

Many construction projects may be able to become more environmentally-conscious.  For example, you may have the option to paint your roof with a paint that reflects UV rays, which can reduce the amount of heat that infiltrates your home and lower energy bills.  There may be a more energy-efficient way to power your new kitchen.  In fact, most industries are now attempting to find more environmentally-conscious methods, processes and ideas.  Greener options do tend to be more expensive, but can save you money in the long run — and, of course, they're better for everyone in the long run.  Ask the contractor you're using whether there's an opportunity for this, and they'll be sure to discuss it with you.

In short, while keeping it green may take a little more effort and money, it's certainly achievable, no matter what kind of work you're having completed on your home.