3 tips for sustainable home renovations

Home renovation represents a significant investment and an opportunity to make your home more sustainable. Here are 3 suggestions for greener renovations that can help you save money and reduce energy and water usage.

There are plenty of inexpensive products on the market today that can help you significantly reduce your household water use.

• Install water-efficient shower heads and taps and make sure you have dual-flush toilet tanks.
• When you replace appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines, select models that offer maximum water- and energy-efficiency.
• Look at the efficiency of your hot water equipment. Solar water heaters can be installed fairly easily.
• Think about installing a rainwater tank to supply water for the garden. A large underground tank may not be an option, but there are many types of above-ground tanks that can be installed unobtrusively.
• Consider further adaptations to your water supply, including using grey water for toilets and washing machines.

While renovating, consider what you can salvage. With a little extra thought, many materials can have a new lease on life elsewhere.

• Contact your local government authority, waste depot or recycling contractors to find out what can be reused.
• Remember that a wide range of materials can be recycled, including aluminum, bricks, glass, concrete, gypsum plasterboard, paper, many plastics, steel and timber.
• While renovations are in progress, use sorting boxes to separate recyclable materials such as wood, metal and electrical wires.
• Save bricks, stones and timber offcuts for future projects.
• Donate leftover paint to charities and community groups.
• Keep extra roof tiles and ceramic or slate floor tiles to replace any that become damaged. You can also use them in other ways, such as for lawn edges.
• Find other uses for surplus timber, including old flooring, window frames and beams.

Asbestos was widely used as a building material until the 1980s. Although no longer used, it remains a major hazard for renovators who remove it or disturb it while building. If breathed in, asbestos dust can cause fatal respiratory diseases.

• Asbestos is most dangerous when broken up, as this allows fibres to become airborne. Therefore, always avoid cutting, sanding or drilling into boards that may contain asbestos.
• If asbestos has to be removed, have it done by a specialist contractor who has the appropriate protective clothing.

Green living involves making changes in the way you live in order to have a positive impact on the environment. So the next time you are planning a home renovation, consider how you can do it in not only a cost-effective manner, but also a sustainable way.