Give Your Home That Green Touch This Summer

If you’ve been reading the newspapers recently, then you know we have a problem on our hands. Maharashtra’s facing a severe water crisis, pollution levels are going through the roof in Delhi, and the availability of clean water and energy is reducing with each passing day. But, what can you or I do about this?

Well, we can’t solve these problems single-handedly, but we definitely can make the decision to start with our homes. From minimising our use of electricity, to conserving water, to just using eco-friendly materials, one thing’s for sure- every bit counts.

According to Aditi Bisht, an interior designer and an UrbanClap Partner, “A lot of clients believe that it’s not possible to make their home eco-friendly without compromising on the aesthetic. I have to explain to them that good design, green design is about making sure the space is just not being made beautifully but, also being sensitive towards the environment so that, in the future, you can ensure the health and well-being of the people living in the house.”

Another reason for green homes not being very popular in India is the impression that it can be expensive to build and maintain an eco-friendly house. However, that’s not entirely true. As Trisha, another UrbanClap Partner explains, “While it’s true that the initial investment is higher, in the long-term you actually tend to save more because your electricity, water, and maintenance costs are much lower.”

So, if you’d like to make your home greener, how do you go about it? Well, we got Trisha and Aditi to give us some tips on how to design sustainable homes without spending too much time and effort and here’s what they had to say:

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Let the Sun Into Your House:

While constructing the house, make sure you utilise daylight to the maximum. Not only will this save electricity, your eyes will thank you! Try to create skylights, opening with shade, and capture the light from the North. You can also opt for full-length glass panels for doors and windows which have a solar control property.

This means they will reflect more heat and keep the interiors insulated, reducing cooling and heating loads.

Skip The Vitrified Tiles

If you want your floors to look good, while also going green, you have a lot of great options to choose from. While wooden flooring is popular, a more sustainable and popular option is bamboo flooring, which is a rapidly recyclable material. Of course, there’s also other materials, like cork, recycled rubber, and linoleum that’ll brighten up the house without increasing your carbon footprint.

Go Green With The Walls

No, we’re not being literal here. Though, if you choose, you can paint your walls green- or any other colour of your choice- by using low VOC (volatile organic compound) paint. And how about going paintless with wallpaper? There are tons of different designs and patterns that you can go in for, and many of them are made from rapidly renewable sources and natural fibres!

Choose Your Furniture With Care

You need to be especially careful when you move into a new home because when you move into a newly furnished home, you eyes can start to burn due to the excessive use of urea formaldehyde in the plywood. So try to ensure that your furniture is 100% recyclable and contains low V.O.C content.

Alternatively, you can use cane and bamboo furniture which is not only eco-friendly, but will also give your home a unique look. And when you’re picking the fabrics to go, just make sure that they’re all-natural and you’ll be set!

Use Energy Efficient Lighting

Just using LED lights can make a whole lot of difference, and when you couple them with home automation (sensor lights), just think about how much you can save on your electricity bill! Of course, an even better option is to go in for solar lighting, if possible and completely reduce your dependency on electricity.

Use Water Efficient Faucets

One major way to go green involves conserving water, and what better place to start than your loos?! Try using water efficient faucets that will prevent your  replacing your flush tanks flush tanks of E.W.C. with a 2/4 ltr. flush instead of 3/6 ltr and you’ll end up saving a considerable amount of water.

Also, another option is to reuse grey water, i.e. the water that washes down your kitchen or sink. Even if it has traces of dirt, you can always use it to water your garden or lawn. And, of course, if you don’t have a lawn, you can at least decorate the house with plants just to give it that green touch!

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We’ve just listed a few tips that can make your home more eco-friendly here. However, if you’re looking for detailed advice on how to make your home greener, then you can always consult our professional interior designers or architects on UrbanClap.

And, if you found this article useful, then do comment and let us know!