Green Ideas For Home Improvement

by Shannon Shimizu

Now more than ever, many of us are concerned with making choices that are not only good for us, but for the environment as well. Eco-friendly home improvement options are readily available these days. These products provide good quality and savings by lowering your water and energy bills. The savings to you over the lifetime of these products allows them to pay for themselves.

Save water in the bathroom by replacing your old toilet with either a low flow or dual flush model. Also replace your regular shower head and faucet with affordable low flow versions.

Painting either the inside or outside of your home can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. When you go to select your paints, look for ones that are either recycled or non-VOC brands. Non-VOC means non volatile organic chemicals. There are also brands which contain low or reduced levels of VOC. Just ask for eco-friendly paints at your local home improvement or paint store.

When replacing the flooring in your home there are many eco friendly options. One to look into is cork flooring. It holds up well, is comfortable to walk on and comes in many colors and designs. The adhesive used is also non toxic so it won't harm the environment.

Another option for flooring is to simply refurbish the floors you have. You may have older hard wood floors that are either visible or covered up with carpet or other flooring. Once refinished, these floors can shine like brand new.

If you're looking at carpet, consider carpet tiles instead. The problem with more traditional carpet is that it has a tendency to harbor nasty things such as dust mites, mildew, and pet dander. Unfortunately these are hard to get out even with steam cleaning. Carpet tiles are usually made from recycled materials, easy to install and easy to keep clean. They also come in outdoor carpet styles if you would like to spruce up outdoors as well.

If you do decide to go with carpeting, try to skip the carpet padding. The extra material, chemicals and labor involved is often unnecessary. The padding also makes it much harder to keep your carpet clean without having to use harsh chemicals.

When you are shopping for bedding, remember to look for organic brands. Other companies often add formaldehyde as a softneing agent. This toxic chemical is not only bad for your, but also bad for the environment. Mattresses can also be eco-friendly. Many companies now carry them. They are generally made from a material called natural latex rubber which is not harmful to the environment.

Solar options are great to consider as well. They will reduce your energy usage as well as your energy bill. If you're replacing your water heater, try a solar powered model. Also consider solar panels. They may be expensive to buy, but many companies now rent them as well. This makes them very affordable and accessible to almost anyone.