With countries all over the world seeking ways to mitigate the intensifying effects of climate change, homeowners are taking it into their own hands to make more eco-friendly choices in their own lives. For some, this will mean simply being mindful about their waste, or making small changes to their daily routines. But for others, becoming more environmentally friendly will involve making large-scale changes to either their home’s design or the way in which they use it. 

This could involve designing a smart home, installing renewable energy sources, or using more energy-efficient products throughout the property. Any eco-conscious change you make within your home, however large or small, will help you take a step in the right direction towards reducing your overall carbon footprint. 

However, redesigning or renovating your home is likely to have a negative impact on the environment, before you can start to reap the benefits. In this way, it’s important to be aware of the impact any project may have on the environment when it comes to carbon emissions. 

In this guide, we’ll tell you all you need to know about the importance of calculating the carbon footprint of a project and explain just how you can do it. We’ll also offer some guidance on how to reduce your footprint during and after the project, so your upgraded home can continue to benefit the environment for years to come.

What Is a Carbon Footprint?

Put simply, the carbon footprint of your home renovation equates to the total amount of greenhouse gases that have been emitted as a result of the project. Greenhouse gases contribute to climate change by trapping heat in the atmosphere, which is why there is growing interest in the monitoring of our carbon footprints. In renovation work, emissions can be produced from machinery used on site, as well as from the transportation and manufacture of materials used in the project.

Why Is It Important?

As the world population continues to grow and consume more resources, it's important to be aware of our carbon footprints and take steps to reduce them. In any renovation project, understanding your carbon footprint will highlight clear opportunities for you to make more sustainable decisions, which could benefit the planet now, and in the future. For instance, you may consider using renewable energy to power any machinery used, or even go one step further and integrate renewable sources into your renovation.

How to Calculate It

Once you understand the importance of calculating the carbon footprint of your renovation, you will need to know how you can go about actually doing it. Fortunately, it's actually not as difficult as you might think. There are a number of online calculators that can help you to determine your footprint, and many of them only require a few minutes of your time. 

Renovation projects can often have a significant impact on your carbon footprint. From your choice of materials to your relationship with energy, there are so many different factors to consider when calculating your project’s carbon footprint. Fortunately, no matter the type of renovation you’re undertaking, there’s a plethora of different ways you can reduce your footprint during and after the project.

How to Reduce It

There are many ways to calculate your carbon footprint, but the most important thing is to focus on reducing your emissions. On average, a new home will emit 65 tonnes of CO2 during the construction process. Whilst this figure may be alarming, fortunately, there are lots of different ways that emissions can be reduced during construction and renovation activities.

For instance, you may be able to offset some of the emissions by choosing energy-efficient appliances or using recycled materials. You could also opt to make changes to your home with smart tech in mind. Creating a smarter home will help you to take back control of your energy consumption, and ultimately help to limit your carbon footprint long after the renovation work has been completed. You should also choose to work with suppliers and businesses equally invested in their carbon footprint – there’s growing pressure for businesses of all sizes to consider their environmental impact, so do investigate who you work with or buy from.

Summary

We all have a role to play in combating climate change, and reducing our carbon footprints is a great place to start. By making some simple changes, you can help to reduce your footprint and make a positive impact on the environment.
For more information and to see how we could help with your project, head to our homepage.

Author: Claire Monroe