We welcome Rose Morrison’s informative article, Sustainable Design is Affordable Design, as another wonderful guest post for Slipcovers for Your Walls, casartblog for Casart Coverings removable wallpaper and decor. Be sure to read Rose’s bio at the end.
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One of the biggest misconceptions is that eco-friendliness costs more and is thus impractical for the vast majority of people. However, the opposite is true: sustainable design is affordable. It’s often less expensive than other methods.
Perhaps the idea arises from the high prices people encounter when switching to solar or making other big-ticket property improvements. However, integrating such design from the start can save you money during construction, and renovating with recycled and repurposed products can also save cash.
Are you seeking eco-friendly ways to refresh your home or office? Perhaps you’re curious about different building techniques. Either way, here’s why sustainable design is affordable design.
[Reference link to the Casart Alice Topper wallpaper image above.]Something Old is New Again
Perhaps the most interesting way sustainable design is affordable is using reclaimed, repurposed and recycled materials in construction. First, it helps to know what these terms mean:
- Recycled materials: Are broken down before being reconstructed into something new, for example, breaking old lumber into wood chips for new composite boards. Although more eco-friendly than harvesting raw materials, the process still takes energy.
- Repurposed: A prepared material retains its original configurations with some modifications. For example, hanging a wooden pallet to a wall and screwing in hoops to hold plants.
- Reclaimed: Similar to repurposed but refers to raw materials, like wood, that are spared when demolishing existing structures.
Each method improves overall sustainability while preserving raw materials and the environment. For example, it takes 11 to 13 times more energy to convert felled trees into lumber than to refinish reclaimed wood.
Wood isn’t the only raw material you can reclaim, repurpose or recycle. For example, metal and glass are nearly infinitely recyclable. If what you have doesn’t fit the configurations you need, breaking it down still saves more energy than starting from scratch with raw materials.
Manufacturers have also begun to improve their processes, making it easier for you to reclaim materials previously lost to demolition. For example, Casart makes a reusable wallpaper that’s ideal for renters who can’t stand boring white walls but also offers sustainability to homeowners. When you move, take it down and replace it in your new abode or keep it up, remove it when you want and reuse it seasonally.
Here are some more ideas for how to use reclaimed materials sustainably when building something new or renovating an existing structure:
- Get your salvage yard on speed dial: Many people overlook salvage yards as material sources when renovating their homes. However, you could save a small fortune while building more sustainably. Some yards charge by the item, while others charge a single flat rate, allowing you to take whatever you can haul and use.
- Know other places to find what you need: Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor have neighborhood listings where you can find materials, and scouting the dumpsters near construction sites is another idea. Your local hardware store is a great source of wooden shipping pallets you can repurpose for dozens of uses, from planters to compost bins.
- Free give and get sites: Freecycle and BNProject (BuyNothing Project) are great platforms to check for all sorts of things that users are getting rid of and to post items that you no longer want or cannot use but don’t want to add to the trash heap. These platforms put the saying, “someone’s trash is another’s treasure” into practice.
- Paint and refinish: Remodeling your kitchen? Instead of spending a fortune on new cabinets, paint or stain your existing models. Do the same with long-lasting hardwood floors instead of covering them with linoleum. Refinishing your furniture can give your home a whole new look without spending a bundle.
- Choose reusable materials: If you must buy new, select a material like wood, brick, glass or metal that you can reuse later.
Saving Energy Saves Cash
Why do some people choose to pay up to $20,000 out of pocket to convert to solar? Sustainability is only part of the equation — many people do so to kiss soaring monthly energy bills goodbye.
A solar conversion isn’t your only way to save energy and make construction more sustainable while saving money on utility bills. Multiple energy-saving building techniques keep more green in your wallet at month’s end. For example:
1. Taking Advantage of Passive Solar
Your home’s orientation plays a considerable role in overall energy efficiency. For example, homes with significant south-facing window exposure can take advantage of passive solar, keeping their homes warmer in the winter without adjusting the thermostat. Exchanging your blackout curtains for a translucent, lightweight version protects your privacy while preserving heat.
2. Using Energy-Efficient Lighting
Today’s newer LED bulbs use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. You could save up to $225 a year by swapping out the type you choose in your fixtures as they burn out.
3. Smart Appliances Are Really Clever Sustainability Tools
Is it worth it for sustainability’s sake to upgrade to smart home features? Yes. For example, adjusting your thermostat by one degree during the 8-hour workday can save you up to 10% on your home’s energy bill — but what if you forget to adjust the dial before you leave? A smart thermostat lets you adjust it by phone and turn off any blazing lights.
4. Energy-Efficient Appliances Save Money
Furthermore, manufacturers have competed to make the most sustainable products ever since the Energy Star program began in 1992. Upgrading to newer models when renovating could save a bundle, especially if you haven’t replaced the dishwasher since the 1970s.
Renewables Offer Superior Durability
[Reference link to the Casart Spring Sing Home Decor Items above.]
Another misconception is that green, renewable construction materials aren’t as durable as existing technology. However, that’s also untrue. For example, bamboo is one of the best woods for flooring and cabinetry because of its superior durability. When properly treated, it resists rot and insects. Furthermore, some species grow as fast as three feet a day, making this material choice far more eco-friendly than lumber.
Polyurethane gets a bad reputation because it isn’t recyclable. However, the new, plant-based versions offer the same insulating benefits but come from bamboo, kelp and hemp, not non-renewable petroleum.
Hempcrete is fire-resistant and offers superb thermal and acoustic insulation. Additionally, it is carbon-negative, meaning it absorbs more of this greenhouse gas than it emits.
Even the smallest decorating details make a sustainable design difference. For example, selecting throw blankets and pillows made from natural fibers is a greener choice than artificial fibers that often contain microplastics.
Sustainable Design Really IS Affordable
Many people mistakenly believe that sustainable design costs more. However, in reality, it’s also affordable design.
Taking advantage of passive solar, using reclaimed, repurposed and recycled materials and choosing renewables when you must buy new are all examples of sustainable design made affordable. It only makes sense to keep more green in your wallet while greening the planet.
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Additional posts & resources:
- Why in the World Would Your Ever Want to Reuse Wallpaper?
- Why We Need to Toss Out Throwaway Culture
- Eco-Friendly Design
- Other posts about sustainable design
Many thanks to Rose for this article and sharing her knowledge about how interior design can be sustainable and affordable.
About the author:
Rose Morrison is a home improvement and design writer.
She is also the managing editor of Renovated. Follow her on Twitter to see more of her work.
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