Building and renovation

Choose the right materials and take care of the remains when you build and renovate. This way your projects will be more climate smart.

Whether you build something new or renovate something old, you probably need many different materials and chemical products.

Choose the right material

Make sure not to select a floor made of PVC containing phthalate plasticizers.
Check so that your vinyl flooring does not contain phthalates.
Avoid everything marketed as having undergone an antibacterial treatment, such as countertops, refrigerators, and door handles. This often means that the product contains pesticides that are damaging to the environment.
For facade and roof – choose materials that do not pollute the storm water. For example, do not use copper sheet or zinc material.
A vegetated roof can help delay runoff in rainy weather and can contribute to better air quality.

Many paints contain environmentally harmful substances. This also applies to water-based paints where preservatives are included.

Choose an environmentally friendly paint. There are many kinds to choose from, often marked with the EU-flower, the EU’s ecolabel. Products marked with an ecolabel contain a minimum of environmentally damaging substances.
Never pour environmentally hazardous substances such as solvents, paints or oils in the toilet, sink, or floor drain. Instead, take them to a toxic waste recycling facility.
Put rollers and paintbrushes in sealed plastic bags when you take a break from painting with water soluble paints. This way, you don’t need to clean the tools more than necessary.
If you want to reuse your tools, roll off as much paint as possible on a piece of paper. Throw the paper in the burnable waste.

Choose materials for your facade and roof that do not contaminate rain water. For instance, do not use copper sheeting or unpainted zinc surfaces.
Consider investing in a “Green Roof”, a roof dressed with plants. Plants delay runoff when it rains, and allow some precipitation to evaporate. Sedum plants are especially suitable for green roofs. Sedum roofs are also good for biodiversity.
Install drainage that re-distributes rainwater throughout the garden. This is better than allowing rainwater to run into storm drains.