An annual temperature analysis from Berkeley Earth shows disturbing reports. The last four years are the warmest the planet has ever been in human history. In case that didn’t shock you, think about how humans have been around for quite a long time. The degree of environmental destruction has come to its peak and will continue to set new heights if we don’t act now. It’s not hard to accept that at this point, the effects of climate change are irreversible. We’re sending ourselves down the path of impending doom. The only thing we can do is try our best to delay the planet’s inevitable demise.
With that being said, sustainable living has never been more necessary. All hope is not yet lost with our collective effort to make individual lifestyle changes towards sustainability. If you want to be a part of this crusade against Mother Earth’s destruction, here are 3 sustainable home design ideas for the eco-conscious.
Eco-Friendly Remodeling Solutions
A notable example of this is concrete resurfacing. Concrete replacement and removal require excessive energy consumption to accomplish. With resurfacing, existing concrete is patched up and renewed with overlays and coatings. Eco-friendly coatings and overlays are available in the market. These come in decorative options such as stamped concrete overlays. Concrete is also a practical and eco-friendly alternative compared to other types of flooring material.
Opt for Energy Efficient Lighting
Installing energy-efficient lights is one of the best ways to start toward a green home. There are two ways to do this. One is to remove any incandescent or halogen lighting in your home (if there are any) and replace these with LED. An LED or Light Emitting Diode uses 85% less energy than the two aforementioned types of lightings. The second way to save energy is to optimize the use of natural lighting in your home. Natural lighting is absolutely free and even promotes healthier living.
Conserve Water by Updating Appliances
Water conservation plays a significant role in making the effort to live sustainably. Recent washing machine models are built to be more efficient in saving water than past models. It’s also worth noting that front load washers can effectively clean clothes with less compared to a top load washer. Check for the water factor rating to see water efficient the appliance is. Others you may want to consider are water-filtration systems for the bathroom, sprinklers for the lawn, and low-flow toilets.
