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AUGUST 2024 HOUSING MARKET UPDATE
Calgary housing market sees shifts Housing activity continues to move away from the extreme sellers’ market conditions experienced ...
READ POSTWays to Bring Eco-Conscious Beauty to Your Home
As more people become increasingly aware of the effects of our energy consumption on climate change, homeowners are choosing to adopt more sustainable design solutions. Creating a welcoming, stylish home is now as much about putting thoughtful care into responsibly sourced furnishings as it is about picking pieces that suit your needs. It’s about making smart choices for the environment without having to sacrifice beauty or function.
Just in time for Earth Day, these suggestions for how you can choose to enhance your home’s interior eco-friendliness range from repurposing existing materials to thinking on a more local scale, all while keeping beauty at the forefront of design.
Choose Responsible, Local Furniture Companies
Choose pieces from local companies that are dedicated to sustainable interior design—these brands are more likely to use ethical, responsibly sourced materials, but they’ll also have a low-waste and low-pollution logistics and shipping mandate.
Rework Vintage Finds
For those who prefer to reduce manufacturing demand and keep existing pieces in circulation, sourcing vintage furnishings and décor is the most sustainable option. A simple reupholstering or paint job is an easy way to invest in quality antiques while giving your home a stylish and sustainable update.
Switch to Eco-Friendly Fabrics
Opt for materials like linen, cotton, wool, jute, and hemp, especially recycled or certified blends, which are more sustainable than synthetics. Curtains and drapes will also help with your energy footprint: use them to reduce the amount of interior heat lost through window panes in colder seasons, and to block direct sunlight in summer, reducing the need for air conditioning.
Making Green Home Improvements
There are easy ways to make eco-friendly home improvements that can also increase the value of your home like installing a programmable thermostat, in-floor heating, and purchasing Energy Star appliances.
Update Your Light Fixtures
Opting for energy-efficient lighting fixtures will make a notable difference in the energy consumption in your home. An easy way to start is by replacing your old incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.
Incorporate Artisan-Made Home Goods
Artists that work on a small scale are able to focus their efforts on using sustainable, locally-sourced materials and time-honoured skills, and investing in their work means you’re supporting smaller businesses while adding considered artworks to your home.
