Don't replace it until you need to

Unless it provides energy, water, or health benefits, don't replace it until you really need to. We often get tired of the same old floors, cabinets and fixtures, and want to replace them. But unless you're getting some other sustainable benefit, often the greenest thing you can do is nothing. Keep existing materials working for you for as long as you can, or refurbish instead of replace. This minimizes waste, natural resource consumption and the environmental cost associated with new material transportation. However, if the product uses significantly less energy or is water efficient, the environmental gain of better efficiency usually outweighs the impact of producing the new product.

Recycle your construction waste

Recycle the waste from your house projects. Construction waste exceeds 100 million tons per year. Much of this waste can be re-manufactured into building products, lowering the amount of new resources used.

Reuse what you can

Whether it is from your own home or from recycled house- part stores, find creative ways to re-use existing materials. Turn gym bleachers into floors, find an antique claw foot tub, re-stain that antique desk and you have both style and a great story.

Use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood

FSC certification ensures that a forest is managed based on ecologically sound principles, and remains a viable ecosystem, while at the same time allowing wood harvest. FSC products are readily available in flooring, decking, framing lumber, sheathing, window frames and trim.

Look for materials with recycled content

The less raw material that has to go into a new building product, the lower the environmental impact. Countertops made from recycled glass or recycled paper, glass and porcelain tile, recycled wood fiber decking and siding, even recycled gypsum in drywall are available for your home improvement projects.

Buy local products, support local economies

Buying products that are manufactured or harvested locally reduces carbon emissions (less transportation) and helps support job and wage growth for our region.

Use materials that last a lifetime

Highly durable products go a long way to reducing the amount of resources we consume over time, because they have to be replaced less frequently. Ask yourself: will this product last 100 years? Of course, material durability needs to be balanced with other considerations such as how the product is manufactured and what it is made from.

Look for products with a green certification

Third-party product certification means that a product is recognized as sustainable by an independent entity. Certifications include Greenseal, CRI Green Label+, Greenguard, ENERGY STAR, WaterSense and FSC. In a market where it can be tough to tell the difference between a real green product and merely green marketing, looking for a certification can help.

Research the products you like and ask about them

One of the best things you can do for the environment is spend your dollar wisely and in accordance with your ethical and environmental values. Ask suppliers and retailers about their environmental products and values. The more it becomes apparent that buying decisions are made on these values, a broader array of options and a lower environmental footprint will be provided.