There is no doubt that making your home more eco-friendly may require some effort on your part. That is probably the main reason why going green is unappealing to many. However, this doesn’t have to be hard. This process can be a breeze if you know what you are doing, what changes to make, and how to make it easier on yourself.
Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura & San Diego with reliable general contractors, our clients often ask us about tips to ensure an eco-friendly remodel – here are some key points you need to know. To help you make the right changes, here are a few green remodeling tips for an eco-friendly home that you can employ right away.
1. Install New Widows
Replacing outdated and leaking windows is a green remodeling tip that may double the amount you save on energy costs. New windows will update your house inside and out while also preventing hot or cold air from entering or exiting. You should install wide windows or skylights facing south to capture solar energy. If you are wondering what the best material for your new windows is, you should know the following:
- Aluminum and steel are recyclable; however, they provide minimal insulation and are thus inefficient.
- Vinyl or PVC is produced in a hazardous and ineffective manner.
- Double and triple-pane glass is more expensive, but they insulate your house better.
- Sustainable-harvested timber frames are an excellent alternative for environmentally friendly windows.
- Sand is used for making fiberglass window frames.
Installing the right windows will improve the appearance of your home and make it more environmentally friendly.
After you are done with your windows, you may also want to change your doors. If you replace your old doors with steel or fiberglass doors, you may be able to save up to 35% on your energy expenses. Another green home project to help manage your house’s temperature is to replace outdated patio doors with thicker, better-insulated versions. To find out how much these additions to your home will cost, you should get in touch with professionals, but be careful that they don’t upsell you on something you don’t need.
2. Make Use Of Natural Insulation
Insulation may be the most important of our green remodeling tips for an eco-friendly home. This is because the insulation will determine the efficiency with which your home will retain energy.
There are many eco-friendly alternatives for insulation that you can implement when remodeling. Recycled cotton and cellulose insulation are great options. CertainTeed, for example, uses recycled glass in its products to fulfill the EPA’s Recovered Material Guidelines. This keeps materials out of landfills while increasing the energy efficiency of your house. You can’t go wrong with insulation – you just want to make sure that the materials you use are free of VOCs and pollutants.
3. Try To Use Energy-Efficient Appliances
Opt for the most energy-efficient models when looking for new appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens. The Energy Star label on appliances will tell you how energy efficient they are. Many of these enormous pieces of equipment, particularly the more expensive refrigerators, use a lot of power. For many people, these appliances are not only costly to buy, but they will wind up costing a lot more over time.
If you don’t want to bother with the large appliances, you can still make your home more eco-friendly by adding some energy-efficient light bulbs. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs is a simple, low-cost, and energy-efficient addition to your eco-friendly home. Electricity STAR-certified light bulbs last 15 times longer and use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. LED lighting costs around $5 per bulb but can save your home over $225 per year in energy costs.
Alternatively, you can invest in smart lights that you can control through an app. This way, you can effortlessly monitor and adjust your energy consumption even while you’re not at home.
4. Adding Ceiling Fans is One of the Most Significant Green Remodeling Tips for an Eco-Friendly Home
There are not many things that are more environmentally unhealthy than an AC unit. Not only do they consume a lot of energy, but they release hydrofluorocarbons which are devastating to the environment. We suggest that you get rid of your AC unit and install a ceiling fan instead. Installing ceiling fans can be tricky, so we recommend that you consult a licensed professional before doing anything. Fans will provide a contemporary feel to any area of your home. Additionally, they will reduce your energy consumption by 40% during the summer.
While ceiling fans are not as powerful as air conditioners, they more than makeup for it in terms of energy efficiency.
5. Make Use Of Environmentally Friendly Materials
If you want to renovate your home with a contractor so that it is more eco-friendly, you should think about using eco-friendly materials to reduce the environmental impact of your home. Every part of your house can be eco-friendly – from the building materials that the house is made of to the furniture that you have in your home. You may utilize recycled plastic, glass, or natural items manufactured from renewable resources like bamboo and wood.
If you want to paint your home, you can also make use of eco-friendly paint, also known as natural paint, which is paint that has been particularly developed to contain reduced amounts of volatile organic compounds. Paint of this nature will reduce the adverse impacts on the environment since it breaks down swiftly without generating pollutants.
Buy Recycled Furniture For Your Eco-Friendly Home
When buying new stuff, you should consider alternate materials, such as recycled wood. This material is not only ecologically friendly but also aesthetically pleasing. More and more people are using recycled wood in various home improvement projects. Reclaimed wood works well for counters, floors, and walls. You can also buy furniture made out of this material.
That being said, if you plan on getting rid of your old furniture, we suggest that you don’t just throw it away. Throwing away furniture adds to the problem. We recommend selling it or storing it somewhere until you know what to do with it.
If you don’t have any extra space in your home, the best thing you can do is to rent out a storage unit. After that, you can take all of the chairs, tables, couches, and things you don’t know what to do with, pack them for LA storage like a pro, and keep them safely tucked away. Whatever you do, don’t forget to prepare them for the unit, as it’s the only way for your items to remain unharmed.
If your goal is to live an eco-friendly life and protect the natural world around you, there are many green remodeling tips and ways to maintain a sustainable household. Above are just a few common ideas, but feel free to reach out to us directly if you’d like to discuss more ways to remodel your home to be more ‘green’!
When it comes to finding the best eco-friendly contractors in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura, or San Diego – GreatBuildz is simplifying the contractor search. GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners with reliable, thoroughly screened general contractors and provides project support from start to finish.
Call now (818.317.3567) to chat with a real person about your next renovation project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com
