This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

I LOVE renovating homes and jump at the chance to tackle just about any home improvement project!

However, home improvement is NOT just about making things pretty. It’s super important that our homes perform the most energy-efficient way possible and that we are thinking about the long term footprint we’re leaving on our beautiful planet.

The Home Depot cares about the environmental impact they have!

Yep, it’s true!!! They have a “science-based target” for 50% energy reduction by 2035 and they are well on their way to reaching that goal as they are continually improving their energy reduction in their stores, the efficiency of operations, and they are invested in renewable and alternative energy!

I am excited to be partnering with The Home Depot to share with you some of my favorite ways to reduce our energy use, emissions, water use and make our homes and our world as Eco-friendly as possible.

It’s pretty cool what a few simple changes here and there to your home can do! Let’s jump right into it!

ZERO/LOW VOC Paint

One of the first things I do when updating space is to freshen up the PAINT!!! Paint is one of the fastest and inexpensive ways to improve the look of the exterior and interior of your home! It can also be toxic.

The Home Depot has worked with their suppliers Behr and Glidden to reformulate all their paint to be LOW or ZERO VOC! Today, 100% of their interior and exterior (water-based) broad wall paints are low or zero VOC!

Such good news for all of us and as you know Behr paint is my all-time favorite and knowing this makes me an even bigger fan!

Now we can paint our walls without worrying about breathing unstable chemicals that let off gasses that are very harmful to people and the environment!

LED Light Bulbs

Here’s another simple way we can all reduce our energy use…by using LED bulbs instead of the standard incandescent light bulbs! By swapping your bulbs out for LED you’ll use up to 85% less energy and you won’t have to change the bulbs for years!!! That means one less thing on your To-Do list! Sign me up!

Occupancy Sensors and Dimmer Switches

Another super-easy way to reduce our homes’ energy use and lower your utility bill each month is to swap out those old light switches for dimmer switches or Occupancy Sensors.

Dimmer switches will reduce the amount of energy used by 50% and they will extend the life of your bulb by only using it at 50% too!

Occupancy sensors save energy by turning themselves on or off when you’ve entered or left the room! I love this idea for bathrooms, hallways or in the pantry. We love our dimmer switches too!

By exchanging out your lights you’ll be saving money and have the option to have dimmer lighting makes everything so much cozier anyway…so it’s a win-win!

Insulating Foam

I can’t write this post without mentioning talking about insulation. No one wants to lose heat in the winter months and cool air in the summer months!

A well-insulated house is key for reducing the amount of energy needed for heating and cooling!!!

Every single house we’ve renovated or built we’ve amped up the R-Value by using Great Stuff around the windows and doors, as well as any area we suspect, could have an issue with air leaking through! This stuff is messy but SO worth it!

Of course, swapping out any old windows or doors for Energy Star windows and doors would be ideal, but if that’s not an option you can help keep that heat in (or out) by using Great Stuff. Simply remove the trim around your doors and windows and use Insulating Foam to seal up any little places where the air is leaking through. It makes a huge difference and you’ll see it in your utility bill for sure!

Energy STAR Appliances

Okay, guys, I want to share with you one more BIG way to reduce energy usage! Did you know that swapping out your old appliances for ENERGY Star appliances can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use up to 25% less energy than your old model was using!?

When you stop and think about how often you use your appliances that’s a HUGE deal! I don’t know about you but it feels like I do laundry nearly every day of the week. So far I’ve switched out all of my kitchen appliances and now it’s definitely on my to-do list to swap out my old washer/dryer set for these Energy Star washer/dryer set!

We built our cottage all DIY and we implemented every single one of these energy-saving products into our home! Our LED lightbulbs won’t need to be changed for the next 20 years! Our windows are all Energy Star, our paint is all low VOC Behr paint and I used Great Stuff Spray Insulation everywhere air could possibly sneak through!

I am amazed at how low our utilities are each month and it feels great to know that the products in our home are reducing energy usage and waste!

Eco-Friendly Products

I love that The Home Depot not only offers Eco-Friendly products, but they also stand behind their commitments by using these products in their stores!

In 2018 alone, The Home Depot reduced their energy use by 98 million Kilowatt-hours and now have 45 small scale solar farms atop their U.S. stores! Each solar farm reduces their annual electricity grid demand by an estimated 35% or more…and that’s the equivalent of powering 2,300 U.S. homes for a year!

That is just one example of how The Home Depot is making a better world through better products!

In a “throw-away’ society it’s so encouraging to see The Home Depot taking a stand and making improvements in their products, holding their suppliers to higher ECO-Friendly standards and being more environmentally responsible!

Making Changes

As for me, I’m on a mission to swap out my “dinosaur” washer/dryer set for Energy-Star appliances and looking into some outdoor solar light for my yard near our pavilion!

Now it’s your turn!

I’d love to hear what environmentally-friendly improvements you’ve already done or plan to make to your home!?