Six Tips for a Healthier, Safer, and More Attractive Home

If you're not careful, you can really sink a lot of money unnecessarily into making improvements around your home. However, here are some helpful tips that can save you money and make your home safer and greener

• Give some thought to countertop surfaces and backsplashes that are eco-friendly. Many people are now choosing bamboo for this reason, but others are realizing that Formica, Corian, and other types of solid surfacing and laminate can also be eco-friendly alternatives, as long as you select the right ones. Other choices can also include recycled glass.

• Don't shove tree limbs down your garbage disposal. Ok, I know that sounds ridiculous, but you would be surprised at what people attempt to toss down their garbage disposals. Your disposal is not as powerful as you might think. Sure it can handle mashed potatoes and cucumbers. But things like stringy celery or slimy chicken skin will only cause it to clog up and burnout the motor fairly quickly. So think about what you're tossing into the disposal before using it.

• Make only cosmetic changes on areas that are still in good condition. If your doors, windows, railings, etc., are in good condition, you will spend merely a tiny proportion of the money by simply repainting them or making other cosmetic changes (such as the door hardware) that you would have spent if you replaced them entirely.

• Hire an energy auditor. There are qualified companies that will provide you with a complete scan of your house and can help you to make the right eco-friendly options to make sure that your home is as energy efficient as it could possibly be. From insulation to the type of windows, flooring, furnace, and ac you have, the auditor may have many tips to assist you. This is a superb way to add ideas to the planning for your eco-friendly renovation.

• Make sure that your interior renovation project and plans match the rest of the house. This should be obvious, but some people still get it wrong. For example, if the outside of your house looks like it belonged to the Jetsons, don't renovate the interior to look like a Victorian castle. If you do, then prepare to spend the rest of your days there because you'll have a very difficult time selling it.

• Consider installing steel doors throughout your basement. Your basement is a moisture magnet. So it will often feel wet and drafty, which can cause standard wood doors to slowly warp over time. Steel doors are great because they'll add more insulation, stop drafts, and provide a lot more security.