Top Sustainable Materials and Tips for Your Next Renovation

Discover the top sustainable materials and tips for your next renovation. Learn how to make eco-friendly choices that reduce environmental impact while creating a beautiful and functional space.

Are you planning to renovate your home but want to do it in a sustainable way? Well, you have come to the right place!

In this post, we will provide you with a brief overview of some of the best sustainable materials to incorporate within your project, as well as outline some tips on how to make the renovation project as eco-friendly as possible.

So, let’s begin.

What is a Sustainable Home?

The term ‘sustainable’ and the concept of ‘sustainability’ has come to the fore in recent years, particularly with regard to the construction industry and home renovations. But there is still a bit of confusion about what it exactly means.

Essentially, some buildings have a negative impact on the planet and our own health and well-being, because of the way they are built. For instance, with asbestos, cast iron or toxic paints.

Subsequently, a sustainably built home is one that incorporates as many materials and practices as possible to help to reduce this. It is also designed to reduce ongoing bills for its owners and enable them to live a healthier life.

What Materials are Used to Build a Sustainable Home?

When it comes to construction or renovation, not all materials are equal. Indeed, some are much better for the environment and the health of the individuals who live within them than others. So, it is worth making yourself aware of what you should be using.

Here are some of the most eco-friendly and sustainable building materials available at the moment.

Timber

As a 100% renewable resource, timber is already doing an excellent job for the planet by sucking up and storing carbon dioxide as it grows. 

The great thing about timber for home renovations and constructions is that it helps to regulate the heat of your home. Being a natural insulator, it will resist the transfer of heat in the winter, which means that any heat lost through cladding would be minimal.

In the summer, it absorbs the heat of the sun to prevent your home from getting too hot.

Bricks

Given that they could be utilised outside and inside your home, bricks are one of the most versatile and sustainable materials you can use.

Moreover, their density goes a long way towards improving your home’s energy efficiency because they, like timber, can retain and absorb heat, in the winter and summer respectively.

While bricks are made from shale and clay, which are not renewable resources, as they can be easily recycled, they have plenty of plus points.

Rammed Earth

Rammed earth might not be a material you are familiar with. However, it is regularly incorporated into rammers and shutters to construct walls.

It does have some limitations of use. However, its benefits of being a natural product that requires low maintenance, is energy efficient, fire resistant, breathable and soundproof make it a real winner.

The fact it is also durable and can control humidity is the icing on the cake.

Insulation

Insulation is a very important aspect of any home and in the current market there are plenty of sustainable solutions around.

One of the most popular is wool, which provides excellent insulation thanks to its ability to trap air, chemicals and moisture.

Renovation Tips

As well as using sustainable materials, there are plenty of other ways you can incorporate environmentally friendly practices into your home renovation process.

Here are some of the main things you can do.

Responsibly dispose of your rubbish

Renovations can be very messy and often involve knocking down walls, ripping up floorboards, repainting surfaces and replacing old electrical outlets. All of this creates a lot of waste.

In Australia alone, over 2.21 million tonnes of construction waste end up in landfill. So, it is important to dispose of your waste as responsibly as possible.

In most cities including Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney rubbish removal services can do this for you in a professional and efficient manner.

Embrace Solar Power

Energy prices are constantly going up, at the same time, demand for power are increasing to levels never before experienced. For this reason, a great way to make your renovation more sustainable is to install solar power.

Doing this will significantly reduce how much energy your home consumes and can even make you money by selling electricity back to the grid.

Install Energy Efficient Appliances

As well as the energy efficient materials you use during your home renovation process, you should also install energy efficient appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, water-saving showerheads and rainwater toilets.

The more energy efficient appliances you have in your home, the more you will reduce your carbon footprint in the years to come.

Use a Renovation Company who are an Eco-Friendly

If you don’t fancy the idea of doing the renovation work yourself, there are companies who have impressive eco-friendly credentials that can do the work for you.

Do your research to find the nearest ones to where you live and double check what they offer.

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