Last Updated on May 13, 2025 by Tanya Janse van Rensburg
This article is based on a workshop I created a few years ago. However, revisiting the topic and doing an eco-friendly check can be helpful for designing your green home.
People in older homes may find greening their homes more challenging. However, there are some simple things we can do to make older homes eco-friendly.
We can use the best materials and change our lifestyle. Most importantly, we can be environmentally aware. Interior decorating is not only about making things look good.
It's about making wise choices by using green products if possible.
When re-decorating with paint, it is best to use plant-based or low-volatile organic compound paint. Most paint companies now offer eco-friendly paint.
But it pays to do your homework and select the best one. Choosing the right paint will reduce toxins, benefiting everyone, including those with allergies and chemical sensitivities.
Using the right paint will benefit the environment by reducing landfills, groundwater, and ozone-depleting contaminants.
The paint with Low-VOC performs well in terms of coverage, scalability, and rideability (covering flaws on previous coats).
Water-based paints allow easy cleanup with soap and warm water. They produce little or no hazardous fumes, have a low odor during application, and do not smell once the paint is dry.
With no off-gassing, painted areas can be occupied sooner without odor complaints. The paints are not deemed hazardous waste.
Cleanup and disposal are greatly simplified. Some eco-friendly paints in Australia are Livos, The Real Milk Company, and Porter's Paints.
Paint types include lime wash, French wash, oxides, and acrylic treatments. ConsumerReports.org has a report on interior paints available on its website.
Instead of buying new furniture, it can be exciting to go foraging and choose some pre-loved pieces. A few years ago, I gave a series of talks at a home expo.
I enjoyed meeting the exhibitors. I had an interesting discussion with a pre-loved furniture dealer. He said he was concerned about the cheap furniture in many stores.
He felt many young people would be better off buying older, well-made, solid second-hand furniture pieces than the flimsy new furniture.
He said many of his classic modern pieces would hold their value and could be resold at the same price they were bought for.
He was bemused by the preoccupation with new throw-aways when finished furniture over quality.
I created a coffee table from my mother-in-law's old traveling trunk several years ago. She had last used the trunk to travel to Australia in the late 1960s.
It was unfortunate that I had to cover the many travel stickers from India, Algeria, Pakistan, and other fascinating places. The surfaces were badly damaged and had to be well covered.
Of all the items in our home, this coffee table attracts the most comments.
For people living in older homes with older appliances, the key is to do the homework before buying a new energy-efficient appliance.
The funny thing is that the older models seem to last forever. When replacing a washing machine, it is recommended that you select a front loader. They are more water-efficient and gentle on clothes.
Choose a refrigerator that is adequate for your needs. Many people in the US and Australia have big refrigerators, while our European counterparts make do with smaller refrigerators.
It is best to choose a model with the highest energy rating. Installing a Solar Hot Water System can cut energy bills by 65 percent.
Motion sensor exterior lighting means that no energy is wasted when no one is home.
Although Double-Glazed Windows are more expensive to install, they reduce heating bills, so they are cost-effective in the long run, especially in colder areas.
Glazing and awnings could be combined on both the northern aspects of a home.
This will maximize the warming of winter light and reduce the harsh summer sun (in the southern hemisphere).
Placing pelmets over windows and fitting draught stoppers at doors will stop hot air from escaping. They will also prevent cold air from creeping in.
Curtains, drapes, bedding, bathware, and upholstery should be made of natural fabrics, such as wool, cotton, or linen.
These fabrics are more sustainable. Nylon, acrylic, or polyester are petroleum-based.
Install skylights to add light to dark interiors. This will save power. Or use compact fluorescent light bulbs, which last eight times longer and use less energy. LED lighting is another option.
Home solar power is revolutionizing the way we generate electricity while promoting sustainability.
By harnessing the abundant energy of the sun, residential solar panels provide homeowners with a clean and cost-effective solution for powering their homes.
Installing solar panels can help you reduce your environmental footprint, gain energy independence, and save on electricity bills.
Embrace the power of home solar and unlock the benefits of a greener future.
Establish a vegetable and/or herb garden. I have some Italian in-laws who are now in their eighties.
They still grow vegetables, have olive trees, and make bread. They remain active, healthy, and slim.
Pot plants, when used wisely, can also enrich the atmosphere. They are effective at capturing odors and dispelling troublesome volatile organic compounds.
When replacing floor coverings, it is wise to select environmentally friendly products, such as sisal, coir (coconut), seagrass, Cork, and wool.
Lino flooring has come back into fashion. It is made from cork, flour, Linseed (flax) oil, chalk, and jute, making it very environmentally friendly.
Nylon, acrylic, or polyester are petroleum-based products and should be avoided. Other options for flooring are solid renewable timbers, generally made without chemical additives.
When selecting timber, it is best to use wood grown in plantation forests or sustainably managed certified timber from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Ideally, choose recycled timber. Other good eco-friendly options are Masonry, cork, rubber, and bamboo. It pays to be careful.
Also, consider stormwater and avoid fully patched areas that can cause runoff. Use porous paving or tiles that allow some space for soil and grass to grow.
Install a rainwater tank connected to the washing machine. This grey water can also be used for the toilet or watering the garden.
During landscaping, leave some bare soil space for a composting bin.
A few years ago, my husband and I attended a Water Wise Garden seminar. One of the most interesting suggestions was to avoid overwatering your garden.
We were very pleased, as we had certainly not overwatered our garden. It was recommended that plants be watered frequently when they were first planted.
Then, slowly reduce the number of times you water the plants. This will encourage them to establish deep root systems.
In Australia, we have had many years of drought. Many of our plants and trees have survived, and many keen gardeners have killed their plants with kindness.
We can also tend to overwater house plants. Use some budget water-wise ideas. For example, water plants with dishwashing water and children's bath water.
Buy and use a greywater hose (they can be purchased at hardware stores). Consider composting toilets and/or dual flush toilets (Caroma's Cosmos).
Or use retrofit kits to minimize water usage in existing toilets. Switch to low-flow shower heads.
Avoid PVC-based wallpapers. Polyvinyl Chloride produces cancer-inducing dioxins during manufacture, which accumulate in water and air and are absorbed by most animals.
Numerous small things can be done to create a green home. Those mentioned above are only some of the options available to us.
Geoff Steward, on his leaflet for Five Star House Energy Rating Services, states, ‘Good design doesn't cost the earth, poor design does'
Author: Rosena MacFadzean for SampleBoard.com – concept creation online
