Spring is here which means renovation planning is in full swing!

When giving your home a fresh facelift that doesn’t have a major impact on the environment, the rule of thumb is to recycle and donate what you can, and only throw out what you need to. There are many other ways to reduce the impact on the earth when you renovate – here are some green tips to help get you started:

1. When possible, choose local. It may take a little extra research but try to use locally sourced building supplies whenever possible.  Long-distance transportation not only adds to the cost of materials, but also produces large amounts of greenhouse gases
2. Consider sustainable alternatives. Alternative, quirky and conversation sparking solutions are now widely available across Ontario. When replacing materials like wooden flooring, laminate or carpeting, look for green products like cork or bamboo flooring. Or give eco-friendly, recycled tire products, such as roofing shakes, athletic flooring and carpet underlay, a go. These high performance products not only look great – they’re also low maintenance and are made using recycled Ontario rubber.
3. Use eco-friendly paint. It may spruce up your pad but that fresh coat of paint may also fill your home with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as it dries. Make sure to use paints low in VOC’s, available at major paint retailers.
4. Reduce flow. Replace showerheads, faucets and toilets with low flow alternatives.  It’s an easy way to reduce the amount of water you use on a daily basis. If you happen to be keeping your old toilet in a bathroom reno, (gently!) drop a brick into the tank to help reduce water usage.
5. Repurpose old furniture or take a trip to a thrift shop. Think of ways to reuse materials left over from your demolition – upcycling is on-trend and can result in some pretty cool creations. Old cupboard doors can be painted, fitted with hooks and mounted to a wall for easy coat storage or make a headboard with old planks of wood. The possibilities are endless!

Even if you’re not renovating there are plenty of things you can do to reduce the impact your home has on the environment – find more green inspiration here.