Humans have a huge impact on the Earth through our daily decisions and activities. Look at what happened around the world when Covid19 forced everyone to stay in their homes more. The canals of Venice became cleaner than they have ever been, New York and other major cities have displayed a significant decrease in CO2 pollution, wildlife populations increased, and the list goes on! The world doesn’t have to shut down in order for us to be good to the Earth. There are many ways we can reduce our carbon footprint, even when we are remodeling or building our homes. In interior design we know tips and tricks to help you help your environment while still getting the home of your dreams!
Use Less Non-Renewable Resources
When choosing your building materials, choose materials listed as “green” or “sustainable”. It is important to remember that all natural materials are not necessarily sustainable. You must evaluate how quickly that material can be renewed, what production requires to go from the raw material to the final product, the distance it must travel to get to you, and whether that material is recyclable. Bamboo, cork, wool, linen, and hemp are all good choices when you want to “Go Green”.
Make Your Environment Healthy
Alternatively to using sustainable materials is to bring new life to materials that are considered unsustainable. Revamp some old furniture instead of throwing it out and buying new. This will also reduce your waste and maybe save you some money! Anyway that you can recycle or reuse materials is a good thing! Paint is an expensive and quick way to update items. When using paint, look for paint listed as “No or Low VOC”. VOC stands for “volatile organic compound”. It is essentially the gasses that paint gives off and is where that new paint smell comes from. These gasses can also build up in your home and cause many different health problems. Actually, there are many different gasses and odors that can build up in your home overtime causing problems to your home and family. Along with proper ventilation and air circulation daily and in the initial designing of your home, you can also incorporate fans (to help circulate air), plants (nature’s natural air purifiers), and maintain clean carpets. Carpets and area rugs trap dust from the air; therefore, regular vacuuming removes the dust instead of releasing it back into your air.
Minimize Your Energy
The two most critical aspects in your home, when considering your energy use, is temperature maintenance and lighting. Large windows are an excellent way to exchange the use of electric lighting for natural lighting. However, most of our heating and air conditioning escapes through windows, so you must be sure that your windows are good quality, are sealed well, and include some kind of blinds, curtains, or other window covering. Consider the colors you use in your space. Lighter colors reflect light whereas darker colors absorb it. Choosing a lighter color for your walls will allow you to need less unnatural lighting. Good insulation in your walls and floors is also a big factor in maintaining temperatures in your home. Carpet keeps a room warmer, while a hardwood floor will feel cooler. Add an area rug over wood flooring as a less expensive alternative to installing carpet.