Home renovations offer an excellent chance to enhance functionality, boost comfort, and refresh dull areas. They also present an opportunity to prevent a significant amount of materials from ending up in landfills.
According to the EPA, in 2018, the U.S. produced 600 million tons of construction and demolition waste—over double the amount of municipal solid waste from the same year—with demolition making up over 90 percent of it. Approximately 145 million tons were directly sent to landfills.
Adopting eco-friendly contracting and material selection can reduce waste and improve your home’s water and energy efficiency. It’s important to note that the federal tax credit for efficiency upgrades expired at the end of 2025, shifting financial considerations to state and utility programs. More details are provided below.
Incorporate these eco-friendly strategies during the planning stage of your renovation, whether you’re doing the work yourself or outsourcing it to a contractor.
Repurpose When Possible
Start by identifying existing materials and fixtures that can be reused, donated, or recycled instead of being discarded.
Items like cabinetry, lighting, flooring, and plumbing fixtures can often be refinished or repaired to give them a new appearance. Replacing inefficient appliances and plumbing fixtures can lead to long-term savings in both money and resources, rather than replacing cabinets and countertops.
Donate Unneeded Materials
Items that are in good condition but don’t fit your project can be donated. The Habitat for Humanity ReStore network accepts a variety of appliances, building materials, furniture, and more. Their donation guide provides details on what each store will accept.
Replace Inefficient Toilets & Appliances
Toilets are the primary consumers of water in most homes. A WaterSense labeled toilet uses up to 1.28 gallons per flush, 20 percent less than the federal standard of 1.6 gpf. The EPA estimates that replacing outdated models can save a family around 13,000 gallons of water and over $170 annually. Older models may use up to six gallons per flush.
If you’re considering a dual-flush model, note that the EPA updated its specifications in 2025. The full-flush mode must now use 1.28 gpf or less, without averaging large and small flushes. Some models with the label from previous years no longer qualify.
This efficiency principle also applies to washers and dishwashers. Before deciding to replace an appliance, compare its water and energy usage with newer models. A dishwasher made recently might use half the energy of one installed two decades ago.
Find Salvaged Materials
Renovations using salvaged materials can create unique character and charm. Consider where reclaimed items could be used when shopping for new materials. Check platforms like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, your local Buy Nothing group, the ReStore, or salvage yards. Active demolition sites can also be valuable; contractors might part with items like trim or brick to avoid disposal costs.
Use Natural Finishes & Products
Many paints, varnishes, stains, and flooring materials emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that harm indoor air quality, with indoor concentrations often higher than outdoor ones. Opt for finishes labeled as low- or zero-VOC and seek products certified to a Green Seal standard. Ensure good ventilation during and after application, regardless of the label.
Look for Certified Green Products
Choose Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood products to ensure lumber, plywood, and flooring come from responsibly managed forests. Choose ENERGY STAR appliances that meet stricter energy-efficiency standards than the federal minimum.
In a notable year for ENERGY STAR, the administration suggested discontinuing the program in 2025, but Congress allocated $33 million for it in the fiscal 2026 budget. In March 2026, the EPA and the Department of Energy agreed to make DOE the lead agency managing the program. The label remains a valuable tool for evaluating products, though its specifications and staffing are still being determined.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED v5 rating system, ratified in April 2025 and open for certification since November of the same year, offers a comprehensive view of sustainable building materials, focusing on embodied carbon and ingredient transparency. While homeowners might not pursue LEED points for a simple bathroom remodel, two product labels it acknowledges are straightforward to verify on a specification sheet: Cradle to Cradle Certified and Declare, which acts as a product nutrition label.
Reduce Construction Waste & Debris
Utilizing salvaged materials in your renovation typically results in less packaging waste. It also contributes to a recovery stream that functions better than most people think: of the 600 million tons of construction and demolition debris produced in 2018, around 455 million tons were reused rather than disposed of, primarily as aggregate material.
Materials that frequently end up in landfills are worth planning around. Wood, gypsum drywall, asphalt shingles, and brick and clay tile are often landfilled at high rates, so ordering carefully and finding a use for leftovers is more impactful than with concrete or metal.
When buying new materials, choose items with minimal non-recyclable packaging. Consider donating excess materials or finding new uses for them once your renovation is done, and consult Earth911’s recycling search for local options before discarding anything.
Make Energy-Saving Improvements
Is your home adequately insulated and air-sealed? Are there rooms with drafts or uneven temperatures? Renovations offer a prime opportunity for home performance upgrades, as walls are already being opened. An infrared camera or a professional home energy audit can reveal where energy is being lost before closing things back up.
Replace soiled or ineffective insulation, seal gaps and cracks, and think about replacing leaky or single-pane windows. Whenever possible, select insulation products made from natural materials that do not contain harmful flame retardants or off-gas VOCs.
You’ll need to plan your budget differently than in 2024. The 25C Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which offered up to $3,200 annually for insulation, windows, heat pumps, and energy audits, was discontinued for properties placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The 25D residential clean energy credit ended simultaneously. What remains is the Inflation Reduction Act’s Home Energy Rebates, providing up to $8,000 for whole-home efficiency retrofits and up to $14,000 for electrification. The program is state-administered and typically limited to households with incomes below 150 percent of the local median.
These rebates, which may be depleted during the year, are first-come, first-served, causing availability to vary. California’s single-family electrification rebates were fully booked by February 2026 and moved to a waitlist; Colorado is conducting staged regional rounds; Oregon launched in spring 2026; Texas and Tennessee had not opened to applicants as of mid-2026.
Begin your research with the state energy office, verify if pre-approval is needed before purchasing equipment, and layer utility rebates on top. Some states disqualify projects purchased before the paperwork submission.
Conserve Water
Do your sinks have water-saving fixtures, and are your showerheads efficient? Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons per minute, while WaterSense labeled models use no more than 2.0 gpm and must meet spray force and coverage criteria to earn the label. The EPA estimates the average family could save 2,700 gallons of water and over 330 kilowatt-hours of water heating energy annually by switching.
Renovations also provide a great opportunity to fix leaks. Household leaks waste about 180 gallons weekly, and a running toilet flapper or a dripping supply line is easier to locate and repair with a plumber already present.
Taking these steps, among others, can transform your home improvement project into a benefit for the environment.
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published on October 30, 2019, and was last updated in July 2026.
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