Five Tips for a More Sustainable Renovation
The Summer of 2021 was marked by unusual weather patterns that led to disastrous consequences for people around the world, including the forest fires that plagued British Columbia for months. Whether we want to hear it or not, climate change is before us and it’s imperative that we act on it now in all industries, including the construction and design industry. While some say we’ve passed the point of fixing the planet, environmentalist Paul Hawken believes that this is not the case and we can make positive change through what he calls regeneration.
In his most recent book, Regeneration: Ending the Climate Change in One Generation, author Paul Hawken states that regeneration means “putting life at the center of every action and decision”. So many of us across the globe have become disconnected from the world that we live in. Most of us don’t stop to think about the process by which products are made, including items that decorate our home or how our food is grown.
Have you ever stopped to think about where your cup of morning coffee comes from, or the origins of the desk that you work at everyday? Where are they made? Who’s harvesting the product? Are they coming from a sustainable farm or materials? Are the workers being paid a fair wage, and are they being exposed to harsh chemicals that can hurt them and the environment around them?
Just like many, I would go about my day and not put much thought into the impact my daily decisions made on the world. I, too, have been disconnected. That is, until our whole world came to a halt with the pandemic and I had time to think and analyze. What I saw before me was not only the environmental degradation of our planet and massive global disparity, but also just how truly disconnected humanity is with each other and our planet as a whole.
While commercial construction has slowed down since March 2019, the residential construction industry has been booming. In fact, renovations in Canada saw a massive increase in 2020 and have continued throughout 2021. More and more, homeowners have decided to invest in updating their homes. From full scale main floor projects to smaller ones, there has been a steady increase in the number of renovations. You can just tell by all of the dumpsters that are sitting in front in our neighbourhoods.
While this has been amazing economically for the industry that I work in, it has also had a huge environmental impact. From the number of products that are being imported from around the world in large sea containers, to the quantity of fossil fuels required in manufacturing, to the production of lumber to keep up with demand, to the sheer waste from demolitions. The environmental impact is large in scale and does not appear to be slowing down.
I’m not saying that construction needs to stop. What I am saying is that we need to delve deeper and learn more about the lifeway of products. We need to make decisions that make life a priority, and not just economics. We need to ask questions and learn how to better salvage what we already have. We need to connect. I get that it’s not always financially feasible, but a little bit of effort can pay huge dividends in the end.
Applying Hawken’s concept of regeneration, we should question where all of the construction waste is going. What is being emitted into the atmosphere from this waste? Taking it one step further, where and how are the products being made that are being incorporated into the redesign of a home? Are they locally produced or are they being shipped from overseas? Are the workers being exposed to harmful chemicals that are hurting their local environment and themselves? How much fossil fuel energy is being used to make these products and export them? Asking these questions is the first step towards making more informed decisions when renovating your home. When we know more, we do better.
So, if you’re planning to embark on this renovation journey, take some time to think about how best to minimize your environmental and social impact and make sustainable choices. The more people who make these small changes, the greater impact we will have for the betterment of our planet.
Here are five tips to get you started:
Design Prior to Starting Renovation: Take time to design your space first and pick finishes. Do so before you get started so that you have time to do research and make more informed and sustainable decisions.
Buy Local Products: Consider purchasing hardwood floor through a local mill, or install reclaimed flooring from a salvage store. Check out local artisans for handmade lighting, cabinet and furniture makers, and even bedding. In your search, you will be supporting the local economy, and possibly connecting with a community of other sustainability conscious individuals. Local creativity and ingenuity is worth exploring.
Look for Labelling: When purchasing products look for key labels to indicate that the items have been sustainably and fair trade sourced. Labels to consider: FSC-certified forests (hardwood, furniture), FAIRTRADE, No VOC (paints), PET carpets (are made from recycled plastic and tires), OEKO-TEX (fabrics and leather not treated using harmful substances)
Long Lasting Products: Consider investing in products that will look good for a long time and can withstand wear and tear for years to come. Avoid ‘fast fashion’ decor items that will end up in landfill before you know it. Well-made products might cost more upfront, but can last for decades.
Repurpose and Reuse: The dining table that your parents are dying to pass on to you at first glance might not be your ideal choice. Consider painting it, or change the legs to make it more contemporary. Solid wood pieces are worth refinishing and repurposing.
While making conscious decisions that put life first might appear small at first glance, they are in fact enough to invoke change. Continue to share your knowledge and experiences with your neighbours, family and friends to grow your impact. When we know more as a community we all do better. It’s when the “I” becomes the “we” when even greater change happens.