Not only can an eco-friendly home renovation increase your home value, it can also provide you with plenty of energy savings. Completing these eco-friendly upgrades is a good way to renovate your home and has lasting benefits.
Upgrade Insulation
One of the ways your home could be losing energy is through the wall cavities, if there isn’t proper insulation. As part of an energy audit, you should be checking the insulation in your home. This helps ensure the whole home has insulation and lets you know if anything needs to be updated. Some states and locations even offer rebates for upgrades to your insulation. The better insulated your home is, the more energy costs you will save.
Replace Appliances
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, appliances account for an estimated 15% of energy use in the home. When you upgrade to energy efficient appliances, you can reduce energy consumption. Make sure to compare your stove, refrigerator and dishwasher to new models, in order to make sure you are getting a truly energy efficient option. You may even be able to get rebates from the state to upgrade to energy efficient appliances. In order to remain energy efficient, make sure to recycle your old appliances during your eco-friendly home renovation.
Replace Doors and Windows
Just like with appliances, ENERGY STAR upgrades can save you money on energy costs when replacing doors and windows. New doors and windows help increase the seal in your home. Instead of a wooden front door, a stainless steel door can give you some of the most return on investment out of any home project. The right energy-saving windows can also help save on heating and cooling costs.
Green Kitchens
A remodeled kitchen can yield a bigger return on investment than a bathroom remodel and increase home value. Most of your energy efficient appliances will go in your kitchen, but there are other ways to make your kitchen greener. Use reclaimed wood for shelving and upcycled hardwood flooring. Not only will both of these materials give you a greener kitchen, they also add a great look to your home that many people want. You can get other recycled materials, such as glass and stone, for countertops, and upgrade cabinets with a low-VOC paint.
Use Passive Solar
This doesn’t just mean using solar panels. The sun can be a great tool in the winter to heat up your home, and then in the summer small changes for your home renovation can help block it out. Trees can help shade the home in the summer but still allow heat to pass through in the winter. Use blinds or shades to help block sun in the summer, but keep them open in the winter to let the sun warm the house to save on energy costs.
The Right Materials
No matter what room you are remodeling during your home renovation, the right environmental friendly materials can make a difference. Choose linoleum instead of vinyl, or go with reclaimed wood instead of carpet or hardwood. Painting can be a quick way to spruce up any room, but choose low- or no-VOC paints.