Eco-Friendly Home Improvements For Your Renovation

When getting your home renovated, you should think about green remodeling. Not only will it reduce your carbon footprint, but it will also lead to long-term savings on energy and make your home more appealing to buyers.

If you’re worried you can’t afford it, don’t worry – there are many ways to make your renovation more eco-friendly. It’s all about taking as many steps as possible, not necessarily taking every step you can. Also, consider the fact that you may qualify for tax breaks, making it affordable in the long term.

Recycle Everything

When green remodeling, there are two ways you can think about recycling: you need to use recycled materials and use recyclable materials.

Try to always buy things used. Buying salvaged and reclaimed wood is often cheaper than the alternative, so it’s a win-win. Green materials can also still be relatively durable, so you don’t need to worry about age as much as wear.

If you’re installing flooring, go for something like bamboo, linoleum, sustainable wood, recycled tile, cork, recycled rubber, or stained concrete.

And remember to use renewable and recyclable materials for anything that you’re getting new.

Think About Energy-Efficiency

There are many ways you can increase your energy efficiency through green remodeling.

You might want to hire an energy auditor to tell you how you’re currently using energy and what you can do about it.

Any appliances you use could be more energy efficient, particularly dryers and furnaces. Remember to look for the term “energy star” – these are reviewed by the EPA. Terminology like “sustainable” or “energy efficient” don’t actually mean anything and aren’t regulated.

A tankless water heater is a popular way to help with your energy efficiency.

Your lights should be dimmable. You might want to put them on motion sensors, timers, or another smart-home system. Replace them with energy-efficient LED lights. As a whole, maximize light from as few sources as possible.

Your HVAC system could be more efficient. Eco-friendly ceiling fans help cool off your home for less energy, and you might want a programmable thermostat. You’ll want a heating system that uses geothermal energy or an electric air pump to reduce gas use.

Plant deciduous trees outside your home. They can help cool things off and reduce energy consumption.

Smart outlets use less energy than regular ones, so get some of those.

Upgrade Layout

Your home’s layout and room additions can change your energy efficiency significantly. Your house’s basic layout influences the airflow and your interior’s reactions to the elements, so you need to consider it when doing green remodeling.

Generally, a smaller home has a smaller environmental impact than a larger home. Square footage is nice, but you might want to consider reducing it.

Of course, the downside is that demolition is generally not very eco-friendly. Weigh your costs and benefits.

Upgrade Windows

You’ll want to consider low-emissivity windows for your home to improve your insulation. Dual-paned windows do similar work.

Your windows might even need a little glaze if they’re old. Fill in any cracks that you might find to prevent air from escaping.

Try to design things in your green remodeling with open windows in mind. Opening a window is the most eco-friendly way to regulate the temperature in your home.

Skylights reduce your need for lightbulbs, thereby reducing your energy bills.

Insulate

You’ll want your home to be as sealed-up as possible to reduce energy loss. Recaulk any openings in your home that air might escape. You can get cool roofing made of asphalt, metal, and tile that protects against heat and keeps the inside cool.

Get an energy-efficient door in your green remodeling that’s completely sealed.

Try to get eco-friendly insulation. For example, many types of fiberglass use recycled glass.

Change Your Water Use

Water, like energy, is something else that you need to save as much of as possible while green remodeling.

Low-flush toilets and showerheads in a bathroom remodel help reduce your water use, as can faucet actuators. Install dual plumbing that recycles the water you use. Your hot water installations should also use recirculating systems.

You can set up systems that both recycle and purify rainwater. Even if it doesn’t rain much, this is still a bit of a boost to your water use.

You don’t need plants that use a lot of water in your garden. There are all kinds of xeriscaping options available. You’ll also want to reduce pesticide use while you’re at it.

Paint

Your paint can contain “viscous organic compounds,” or VOCs. These VOCs can be hard on the lungs and aren’t great for the environment. Use paint with as few VOCs as possible.

On top of that, the color that you paint your home can change the temperature within. Dark colors hold in heat, while light colors help release it. Think about what kind of temperatures you’ll face and how they affect your home.

Use Solar Energy

Solar panels are probably one of the first things you think of when it comes to green remodeling. You can get solar-based water heaters and outdoor lights and even let solar panels power your home.

You can sometimes get tax breaks for using solar energy in your home, so look into whether or not you qualify.

FAQs

What are some green exterior remodeling ideas?

Make sure you use eco-friendly paint when remodeling your exterior. Think about your use of plants and how you can reduce water and pesticides.

What are the techniques for remodeling green?

The main thing to think about when doing green remodeling is your energy use. Try to install solar panels. Think about increasing windows while reducing the need for lighting and insulating your home as much as possible. Try to use recyclable materials in the process, too.

What is green home remodeling?

Green home remodeling is when you remodel your home to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

What are the best eco-friendly home improvements?

You can replace your bulbs with LED lights and use energy star-rated appliances. Try to use solar energy and give yourself insulated windows.

Conclusion

There are many different ways to give yourself a more eco-friendly home through green remodeling. You can look into the materials you use in your renovation or remodeling or completely reinvent your energy usage. You can change the layout and size of your home. You can upgrade your windows and insulation to improve temperature retention. You can reduce your water use.

However you choose to upgrade your home, you have many options for reducing your carbon footprint. Hopefully, you’ve found something that works for you.