# Eco-Friendly Lifestyle: 7 Modern Solutions for Home Improvement - Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/08/eco-friendly-lifestyle-7-modern-solutions-for-home-improvement/ - Published: 2021-08-26T22:57:16-04:00 - Author: greenlivingguy Sustainable living and eco-friendly solutions have become buzzwords in the modern world. More and more people are starting to care about our planet and its future. Everybody does what they can — whether that means switching to reusable coffee cups, waste sorting, or driving green cars. And if you want to participate in that, too, we’ve got some ideas. If you were thinking about remodeling or redesigning your [place](https://greenlivingguy.com/2018/03/eco-friendly-home-design-trends-in-2018/), how about using some eco-friendly solutions? In this article, you’ll find a number of them, including floating floorboards, donating unwanted things, insulating, refacing instead of replacing, switching to green energy, and some more. Read on — and make your house more [comfortable](https://greenlivingguy.com/2012/01/the-passive-house-revolution/) for you and better for the environment.  ![House ](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/daria- nepriakhina-fuWN-XkOkCQ-unsplash.jpg?resize=300%2C187&quality=52&ssl=1) ## Floating Floorboards Floating floorboards have become very popular lately. They are easy to install, and they won’t leave any trace on the surface underneath. You can install them in your [bathroom](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/02/going-green-in-the-bathroom/) or kitchen — anywhere you want. If you have a concrete floor, it’s going to look great when covered with lovely wood floorboards. You can opt for floating floorboards made from timber or laminate. They are simple house things to do for [eco-friendly](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/10/3-things-to-consider-when-making-your-home-more-eco-friendly/) moves. That’s as well as be super comfortable. Besides, they are easy to [clean](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/04/7-ideas-for-keeping-an-industrial-space-green-and-clean/) and maintain. If you would like to learn more about flooring, here you can find what floating floorboards are and the main benefits of installing them in your house. ## Recycling Furniture You probably have some old furniture that you’ve stopped using but are reluctant to throw away — either because you like it or because it has sentimental value. But there are great [ways to recycle](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/12/home-depot-lamp-recycling-the-bright-way-to-go-green/) such furniture. For example, you can repurpose it into a new table or a large shelf and use it as extra storage space somewhere in the house. Or, if you have some spare time, you might want to do some work and restore the furniture so that it looks as good as new. ## Donating Your Unwanted Things Another thing you can do when making your house more eco-friendly is [donating your unwanted items](https://greenlivingguy.com/2014/07/cool-green-guide-to-recycling-electronics-appliances/). In fact, it might be one of the easiest and most effective things you can do. For example, if you have any furniture or household appliances that you no longer need, consider giving them away instead of throwing them out. Plenty of people out there could benefit from your old stuff — whether they’re students or [low-income](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/12/how-green-careers-can-be-more-accessible-to-low-income-communities/) families. One thing is for sure: it’s better to donate something than throw it in the trash. ## Insulating Insulation is another way to make your home more eco-friendly. We all know how important insulation is: it keeps our houses warm during winter and [cool during summer](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ways-to-cool-your-home_n_5516182). And not only that — by insulating your house, you’re reducing heat loss, which means lowering your energy bill. That’s a win-win situation, right? There are many ways to insulate your house, including: * Sealing cracks in your walls. * Using spray foam insulation. * Adding insulation to your attic. * Installing reflective insulation (which works great for greenhouses). ## Refacing Instead of Replacing Re-facing is an excellent eco-friendly solution for your house. If you don’t like the look of your cabinets, but they’re still in good shape, consider getting rid of the doors and drawer fronts and replacing them with new ones. Doing this will immediately make your kitchen look fresher. Even if it just looks a little bit different, it will be perfect for a change. And, as it’s much cheaper than changing the drawers completely, it’s also great for your budget. ## Using VOC-Free Paint VOC stands for [volatile organic compounds](https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-are-volatile-organic-compounds-vocs), and it is a chemical used in paint to make it easier to spread. Unfortunately, VOCs are dangerous for the environment: they contribute to [air pollution](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/07/how-indoor-environmental-quality-impacts-health-and-productivity-at-work/), and they cause health problems in both humans and animals. To avoid that, you have two options: either use [natural](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/03/hybrid-car-vehicle-11-reasons-purchase-2022/) paint, which has no VOCs, or use paints with low VOC levels. The first is much better than the latter one, but it’s also more expensive. Either way, your [money](https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/04/how-making-money-comes-from-being-green/) is better spent on eco-friendly paint than cheap ones with high VOC levels. ## Switching to Green Energy Sources If you want to go green, why not switch to [green energy](https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-green-energy)? You can do so by using [solar](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/03/6-ways-going-solar-can-improve-your-life/) panels, which convert sunlight into electricity. It has several benefits, including: * Saving money on your energy [bills](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/11/top-environmental-friendly-tricks-to-reduce-your-monthly-bills/). * Reducing greenhouse gas emissions. * Reducing air pollution. ## Conclusion As you can see, there are a lot of ways to make your house more [eco-friendly](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/06/eco-friendly-building-materials/). Whether using eco-friendly floorboards or refacing your cabinets, you can do a lot to help the environment. Moreover, some of the home improvement options that we presented are also budget-friendly. As a result, you can do something good for the [environment](https://greenlivingguy.com/2006/03/the-suburbs-unplugged-nypathink-clean-commute-program-ny-times/) and make your house look better on the cheap at the same time. Depending on your budget and needs, you should have no problems finding a solution that suits your current situation. Remember that there is always a choice, and if you want to use an [eco-friendly](https://greenlivingguy.com/2021/09/how-to-start-building-your-eco-friendly-lifestyle/) option, you just need to look for it.