In these days where we’re constantly looking for ways to integrate environmental consciousness into our homes, Ocean State Job Lot is trying to be a leader in the practice of sustainability by offering eco-friendly products and idea. In fact, it’s our aspirational value! Eco-friendly home improvement ideas create living spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible. And we can help.
In this blog post, we’ll take you through the process from beginning to end, starting with an audit of your home to the finishing touches as a way to help Mother Earth. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a better grasp on using recycled materials and renewable energy sources, as well as better indoor quality and DIY projects.
The changes will not only suit your home but also your wallet, saving you lots of green in the process.
Start with an Energy Audit
Start your greener journey with a home energy efficiency audit. Check with your local, state, or regional resources to see if they do a free check of your home. If not, you can discover personalized ways to enhance your home’s energy efficiency, from LED lighting to weatherization with lots of items you can pick up at our stores. Remember, at Ocean State Job Lot, our commitment to sustainability is not just to be efficient but also to be affordable.
Understanding Your Home’s Energy Use
First, find out how much energy your home is using. Is it an equal amount to what you should be using as compared to your neighbors or those in your community? Talk to your local energy company to see about rates and usage as compared to recent years. You can see how much you’re using monthly in your bill but some companies also send out a comparison to the rate used against your neighbor.
Sustainable Materials for Home Renovation
Do some research into your options locally in your neighborhood. Are solar panels an option? Get quotes and opinions from different companies as to costs, quotes, and whether trees and sun angles could impact the success of solar panels. Talk to those around you who have already purchased and installed them on their home.
Choosing Eco-Friendly Building Materials
If there’s a project that you are planning to do around the house, talk to a few contractors or do some research to see if there are any reusable building materials you might be able to incorporate. They might be able to save you some money as well as be a little more green for the future of your home. Think about your lighting options as well whether it’s inside the house or lighting the paths or gardens in the backyard.
Reclaimed and Recycled Options
Let your mind wander a bit as to what recycled options you could consider:
- Aluminum
- Glass
- Steel
- Wood
These can come from old lumber or furniture-based items around your house or yard. Instead of using nails, especially with wood, sometimes it’s better to use adhesives and tapes. Check out our assortment of duct tape and Gorilla glue and tape in order to match your needs.
Energy Efficiency Upgrades
This is a place where you can upgrade especially if you have an older home. Adding insulation, LED light bulbs, and weather stripping around doors and windows are all good ways to upgrade to a more energy-efficient home. It not only saves you money, but also keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. It’s a win-win-win!
Insulation and Window Upgrades
Take a look into the attic areas of your home to see the condition of the insulation. In older homes, the insulation may have worn out or in some cases, even just broken down altogether. Replacing or upgrading it may be an option. It’s a case where the more you have, the better your home will be. Also, do you know if you have insulation inside your walls? If you don’t know, drilling a small hole inside will give you a glimpse. A touch of spackle will touch that hole back up as well. Check to see if your state has a program, sometimes free of charge, to check for these things.
Solar Panels and Green Roofs
This, of course, has been the latest boom in energy upgrades. Reducing your traditional energy costs with solar panels and green roofs is seen as using the natural resources of the sun, storing them for energy use for another day, and then essentially being paid back by your local energy company for energy you didn’t use. Of course, there’s an upfront equipment cost and the leap of faith that it will work, but there are plenty of studies out there on its success. Plus, just look around your neighborhood to see just how many people have tried it and stayed with it. Ask them for yourself if you have questions or concerns.
Water Conservation Techniques
There are many different ways that you can save water in your home on a daily basis:
- Turn the water off while brushing your teeth or shaving
- Take shorter showers
- Update faucets, shower heads and pipes to make sure they don’t drip
- Check your toilet(s) for leaks (i.e. do you hear them “running” a lot?)
With each member of the family pitching in, fixing one or more of these will make your home more eco friendly fairly quickly with savings being seen within the first month.
Low-Flow Fixtures and Rainwater Harvesting
When we talk about updating facets and showerheads, we can add low-flow fixtures into the mix that will allow a slower stream of water to be used. When you’re harvesting rainwater, what better way to be eco friendly than to simply use Mother Nature’s own resources? A simple barrel could be used to collect the water as well.
Enhancing Indoor Air Quality
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there are three main areas in which you can improve your indoor air quality.
Source Control: This is about reducing the amount of emissions like gasses and asbestos.
Improved Ventilation: Having a good flow of air, including ventilation of clean, outdoor air moving inside will help improve this.
Air Cleaners: This could include how often you keep your windows open or closed. Keeping up to date on servicing your HVAC system and filters is also a big portion of keeping clean air in your home.
Non-Toxic Paints and Natural Cleaning Products
You can make conscious choices to be sustainable by using non-toxic paints and natural cleaning products. Those cleaning products will keep you and your children free from harmful odors while keeping your home fresh and vibrant. Those non-toxic paints will still give you the freedom to express yourself without compromising your health.
Indoor Plants for Air Purification
Air-purifying plants can be a great way to reduce pollutants in your home. These eco-conscious choices not only bring a touch of nature indoors but can also contribute to a healthier atmosphere. From low-maintenance succulents to stylish peace lilies, you can create your own eco-friendly indoor oasis.
Smart Home Technology
As we advance through the modern era, technology continues to improve and that includes being more eco-friendly in your home. Keeping up with the times will allow that to happen. When you look around your house, just look around to things that were just commonplace, but now are energy-saving gadgets.
Energy-Saving Gadgets and Appliances
Here are a few of those energy-saving gadgets that we were talking about, some that you can get at Ocean State Job Lot:
|
|
DIY Eco-Friendly Home Projects
When you look around your home, you can find DIY projects both indoors and outdoors that will take things to an eco-friendly level. Think about making a new desk out of recyclable materials. Or maybe it’s a bench or garden bed for the backyard that you can put together.
Keep an open mind to the project and see if there’s a replacement that’s better suited to the environment for it. If there is, that’s a better alternative.
Easy Upgrades and Repurposed Decor
Everyone is looking for an easy, quick fix or two, so let’s give you a pair before we finish up.
- Use a couple of big, old aluminum cans as containers for plants or flowers either inside or outside the house. That could give you a nice rustic setting where the plants or flowers may be showcased.
- Take a few old pipes, connect and use them as racks for your bathroom or kitchen towels or rags. You could vary them up depending on the variety of sizes, colors, and thin or thickness.
The more you let your imagination run free, the better you’ll be. Visit your local Ocean State Job Lot and try to find something that catches your eye. See if you can turn it into your next eco-friendly project that not only makes you feel good about what you see, but also about what you’re doing for the environment. Who knows, maybe you could be the next eco-friendly influencer.
