We completely understand the desire to renovate your home, and we encourage you to think about sustainability when doing so. There are plenty of ways you can update or remodel your entire house while still being conscious of the environment – some of these options may even save you some money in the long run.
Let’s talk about a few ways to remodel your home with sustainability in mind.
Invest in Energy Efficient Appliances
The easiest way to add sustainable options to your kitchen remodel is by choosing energy-efficient appliances. These appliances will cut down on water and electricity usage while still being highly efficient. When looking for a new refrigerator, oven, and dishwasher, look for an energy star rating of 75 or higher.
Don’t Leave Out the Insulation
This may not sound like the most “fun” upgrade, but including new, high-quality insulation in your remodel is an excellent way to protect your home from the elements and save energy. New insulation will keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which will save energy.
Insulation can be made from a few different materials, some are more sustainable than others. Some good sustainable choices are fiberglass and cellulose.
Upgrade Your Lighting
Switching to LED lighting will allow you to use 90% less energy – pretty amazing, right? While we hope you’ll run out and buy LED lights right away, we would also suggest you look for ways to add more natural light into your space. Installing a skylight or additional high-performance windows will allow more light to enter your home and reduce how much electricity you use.
While you’re at it, it’s worth it to upgrade your windows to high-performance windows since outdated windows can lead to 50% of your home’s lost energy. High-performing windows will not only help with temperature control, they will also keep UV lights from fading your home décor and will also keep outside noise from disturbing you.
Reclaimed Products Are Great For Sustainability
Using reclaimed products, especially when remodeling an area like your living room, is a great sustainable option since it reduces waste. Reclaimed products can also create character in the space. Opting for an antique reclaimed mantel, beams, or doors, for example, can create a focal point for a living room.
Get Smart
A smart home is one that can be controlled remotely to allow you to save energy. You can install a system that can be controlled by an app on your phone that will allow you to turn off lights or turn up the thermostat while you’re away. Including this technology in your home remodel is a great time to do so since you’ll be looking for new ways to improve your house anyway.
If you’d like a more personalized plan for including sustainable options in your home remodel, give us a call.
We strive to make our projects as eco-friendly as we can and would love the opportunity to create a more sustainable home for you as well.
