At this point, there’s no denying that the way Americans live their lives is resulting in ecosystem-demolishing global warming. These issues range from temperature changes that affect weather patterns to air pollution that negatively impacts our air quality. That’s not to ignore the impact of harmful waste inflicting damage to plant and ocean life.
It’s incumbent on those depleting earth resources to recognize we are occupants of Earth’s natural environments. Thus, we all must assume responsibility to do our part in preserving the sanctity of our delicate ecosystems for generations to come. An excellent place for you to start is to make your lifestyle and personal living spaces more sustainable and eco-friendly.
If you haven’t made such efforts in the past, you might have concerns regarding the costs related to converting your home into an eco-friendly oasis. If that’s the case, why not start small by going through with the bedroom renovation you’ve been deliberating.
While a bedroom renovation may initially appear as yet another source of landfill waste, with a new perspective, it’s an opportunity to reduce waste and lower your energy costs. If you’re concerned about affordability, don’t be. With the energy savings possibilities in mind, you will recollect the money spent on your eco-friendly renovation project before you know it.
To help you move towards creating an eco-friendly sleeping sanctuary, you should strongly consider the following solutions.
Purchase an organic mattress
If your current mattress isn’t organic, you could be sitting on an environmental time bomb. Mattresses made from artificial materials pose health risks because of potential toxins found in several manufacturing materials and utilized in treatment processes. Some of these materials are also highly flammable, which exposes sleepers to the possibility of a fire when you least expect it.
An organic mattress is an all-natural alternative to petroleum-based models. From a wide selection of mattresses they offer, you can choose one made strictly from organic plant materials, which require no chemical treatments.
Not only are these mattresses incredibly comfortable, but they also form to your body’s unique curvature and regulate your shifting body temperature as you drift to sleep. That feature alone could translate to energy savings should you choose to turn down your heating or A/C.
Tint your bedroom windows
You would be amazed at how much heat your windows can generate when exposed to direct sunlight in the summertime. The effects might even present in the wintertime. To combat this issue, you should be able to keep your sleeping sanctuary cool with window tinting. With the right window tinting treatment, homeowners can lower the A/C, which should result in significant energy savings over time.
Purchase a stylish ceiling fan
There are a lot of ways to go about eco-friendly decorating. For example, homeowners may choose to shop for stylish ceiling fans. Not surprisingly, the cost of running a ceiling fan during the summertime is significantly lower than the cost of running your A/C from sunup to sundown. As a bonus, the right fan could give the bedroom a touch of elegance or offer a much-needed focal point to your otherwise drab master bedroom.
Consider eco-friendly flooring
Carpeting often consists of materials that contain harmful chemicals that are just as flammable as petroleum-based mattresses. Luckily, there are eco-conscious alternatives on the market today. Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t often think about flooring in terms of sustainability possibilities.
While hardwood floors are a well-known substitute for carpet, they can create problems for the eco-friendly homeowner, as these hardwood floors depend on the demolition of trees.
If you are willing to go green with your flooring, you might want to go with cork (made from tree bark), stylish and durable bamboo, or glass tile and concrete products. If carpeting is a must, you might want to opt for carpeting made with wool or recycled plastic materials.
Paint
In recent years, environmentally-conscious scientists have worked to develop paints that don’t require the use of crude oil products. If you’re planning on painting your bedroom, you might start by using recycled paint. If you wanted to go all-in with the eco-friendly theme, you might consider purchasing paints made from soybean and sunflower oils, recycled plastic bottles, or vegetable matter.
Furniture
As a finishing touch, you might want to go green with your furniture. Instead of settling on wood or metal furniture pieces, opt for furniture made from bamboo or recycled water bottles. Another way to limit waste would be to settle on second-hand furniture that you can repurpose.
Conclusion
Regardless of their sustainability strategy, homeowners should feel compelled to reevaluate the waste often generated by home renovation projects. Failure to incorporate eco-conscious alternatives to chemical-based paints and carpeting may result in devastating air and water pollution. That said, saving the planet can be as simple as swapping your latex mattress for an organic memory foam mattress.
