Do it Yourself Eco Friendly Home Improvement Projects

Save Money and the Environment

The green building movement has finally grown up. No longer relegated to Mother Earth News, NPR, hippies, and people living in geodesic domes, many 'mainstream' builders now make green practices standard. Many people think that they can't go green if they aren't building a new home, however there are many DIY projects you can do that will directly affect the environment and your bottom line. From a solely selfish perspective, you're not only helping the environment, you'll also be helping your wallet. Green building practices may still cost a bit more up front, but the savings will more than make up for it.

The first thing to think about when doing home improvements is where you will get your materials. Building a shed? Why not check out construction companies in your area to see if they have reclaimed materials at a reduced price? There are many stores that specialize in used building materials now. Local Habitat For Humanity offices often have Habitat ReStores that sell used materials and use the profit to provide affordable housing for families. If your town dump allows access, you can often collect the basic materials needed for small building projects like fences, arbors and playhouses. Is your neighbor remodeling? Ask if those old cabinets they're ripping out are available. They make great storage space in a basement or garage.

One of the easiest ways to make your home look good without investing a lot of time or money is painting. Look for low or no VOC paints. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs can cause many physical problems such as eye and skin irritation to more serious reactions especially in those persons who are sensitive to chemicals. Low or no VOC pains apply exactly like normal paints and are non polluting. If you spill them, they clean up with soap and water. Like low/no VOC pains, newer carpets also are becoming green. Low/no VOC carpeting can be a great way to perk up a room without adding the harmful chemicals that traditional carpet releases. This is a bigger job than painting, but is generally within the scope of a DIY project.