Sustainable DIY
If you'd like to carry out any home improvements, we encourage you to think about the environmental impact of your work.
Try to use of timber from sustainable sources for your DIY, as indicated by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certification. You can find out more information about these from www.fsc-uk.org 
and www.pefc.co.uk .
When you're decorating, try to use paints with lower levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). VOCs contribute towards air pollution, so low VOC paints reduce the amount of these compounds that are released into the atmosphere. In the UK, VOC labels are used on paint tins to indicate the content of VOCs using one of five classifications: Minimal (0-0.29%), Low, Medium, High and Very High (VOC content greater than 50%).
When you're carrying out any DIY in the home and garden, look carefully at what you buy and consider the effect they may have on the environment.
- Try to use timber from certified sources
- Is a recycled plastic an alternative?
- Choose natural renewable materials wherever possible (e.g. for flooring - coir, sisal, jute, cork, wood or wool for carpets)
- Can you use recycled materials (especially timber, but check for nails and rot first)?
- Avoid toxins
- Choose paint with low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content
- Take care when using MDF as it contains high levels of urea formaldehyde and the dust produced when cutting and sanding can be dangerous to eyes and lungs
- Avoid fibreglass & fibreglass type products - the resin is toxic and the dust is an irritant
- Tanalised timber contains arsenic, so avoid burning this
- Wood preservatives may be highly toxic to aquatic life
Check out the Green Choices website for alternatives you may like to consider.
Responsible purchasing
When you're buying items for your home, please bear in mind their environmental impact.
As well as considering buying timber with an FSC or PEFC certification, here are some other suggestions:
- when you're buying appliances, keep an eye out for their rating for energy and water use - which you can find on the appliance's Energy Label
- try to buy more energy-efficient electrical appliances whenever possible
- when you're buying food, using local suppliers reduces the C02 emissions associated with transport so try using local farmers' markets and organic box schemes
- buying fruit and vegetables that are in season and grown in this country also means they will have a lower associated carbon footprint than those from abroad.