Besides using the most environmentally-friendly materials we can find for our homes, we also have a number of techniques that minimize the impact our renovations have on the environment.
Here are some examples:
•Reconditioning old kitchen & bathroom cabinets instead of replacing them with new ones. Often just replacing their old handles can update the look of a room.
•Steam-cleaning old carpets can often bring them back to life and prevent having to take them to the dump.
•Old wood, even if it has been badly scratched, can be quickly restored with a mixture of equal parts double-boiled linseed oil, natural turpentine and white vinegar.
•Kitchens and bathrooms can be tiled with ceramic flooring rather than vinyl — it is much longer-lasting and is completely non-offgassing.