Home improvement projects can seem daunting in terms of time and money that they can drain. These sorts of projects can also seem to be wasteful, throwing out all the old to bring in new. By thinking outside of the box of traditional home improvement, you can be resourceful and make a big impact on your home.

Focus on Utility

A great way to improve your home, help the environment, and cut your utility bills is by making small changes to the utilities in your home. One way to do that is to replace your standard, incandescent light bulbs with LED light bulbs. LEDs both last longer and consume less energy, making them a more sustainable option. Energy consumption from LED bulbs can be up to 30 times lower than incandescents. You can also switch from a traditional water heater to a tankless water heater. Tankless water heaters heat the water directly which uses less water than traditional water heaters and also saves energy.

Be More Environmentally Conscious

Installing solar panels is an eco-conscious decision to improve your home. You can cut CO2 emissions by nearly 10,000 pounds with solar. If you are looking to save water, install water-saving showerheads or flow restrictors. Both are easy to install and can save gallons of water without impacting the quality of your shower. When you need to replace old appliances, narrow your search for new appliances to those that have Energy Star logos.

Work With What You’ve Got

Home improvement does not need to be a timely or expensive process if you use the assets your home already has. For instance, a deep window ledge on a large window can easily be expanded by building a padded bench with accent pillows to make a cozy reading nook. Thrifting is also a great way to find and repurpose items to improve your home. For example, buying and refurbishing a dining table will not only let you spend less money than if you had bought it new but also allow you to customize the table to your taste. The design of your house and your existing furniture may inspire you in unexpected ways. If you decide to buy new rather than thrift, donate your unwanted furniture and other home items that can have a second life.

Home improvement can be both a creative endeavour and environmentally. You can make your home a more environmentally friendly space while staying true to what you like. Experiment one project at a time and you will be able to figure out what works best for you and your family.

Read this next: Tricks That Help Make Your Spaces Look Bigger