Color Me Green
Homeowners grow increasingly concerned with their impact on the environment. That’s why words like energy-efficient, earth-friendly, and recyclable are extremely important to the homebuilding and home renovating process.
With a green home, you not only save on your energy bills, but it’s a great way to increase your home’s value. Also, homes that carry a green certification sell faster. A sustainable renovation also gives you a cleaner lifestyle, thanks to the use of non-toxic materials.
Green home renovations are more affordable and achievable than ever. Creating a “greener,” more sustainable home can be as simple as adding a low-flush toilet. For the more extensive green remodeling project though, you’ll find so many more earth-friendly features to switch to. Let’s look at some of them.
Eco-Friendly Windows
Using materials that are sustainably sourced is important for a successful green home remodeling project. Using a double or triple-pane glass will insulate your home better. Sustainably harvested wooden frames are a great choice for eco-friendly windows. Fiberglass window frames are made from sand, a virtually limitless resource. What you should avoid are aluminum and steel, which offer little insulation, and vinyl and PVC, which are made using a highly inefficient production process.
Low VOC Paints
Common in many different paints are what are called volatile organic compounds, or “VOCs.” These are chemicals that evaporate and enter the air at ordinary room temperatures. The VOCs in interior paint come from petroleum-based solvents used in their production.
You’ll find water instead of these solvents in low VOC interior paints. Using no or low VOC interior paints lowers the number of harmful emissions entering your home, making this a great project to add to your list of eco-friendly home improvements.
Replace Old Appliances
It’s important to remember that many older appliances were built without efficiency in mind. That means your refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, or washer/dryer could be sucking up excess energy by the minute.
Skylights Increase Natural Light
Try adding skylights to light your home with natural light. You can usefully place skylights in the most used areas during the day like the kitchen, living room, or guest bathroom. Remember to fit your skylights with automated blinds to block the sun when needed. Used properly, skylights can be a great eco-friendly remodeling feature for your home and help cut down on your overall electricity consumption.
Reclaimed Wood Floors
Reclaimed wood is both beautiful and environmentally friendly. Using reclaimed wood preserves our trees and forests. You can use reclaimed timber to create stunning flooring, tabletops, cabinets, wood beams, doors, and stairs.
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