When it comes to home remodeling, men appear to be more focused on creating spaces they love than increasing the value of their home. According to a survey by LightStream, an online lending division of SunTrust Bank, 27% of respondents said that personalization was their number one motivator for upgrades they’ve chosen, followed by increasing the value at 14%. However, regardless of their age, men are increasingly interested in making their homes more eco-friendly. Most homeowners who applied sustainable solutions in the last few years have experienced great ROI, especially where it comes to utility bills, even so, that the Dodge Data & Analytics 2015 report on Residential Green Building and Remodelling says that 80% of homeowners are willing to pay more for an eco-friendly home. Here are some of the most effective sustainable renovation projects.
Low-flow plumbing
Since the kitchen and bathroom are still among the most popular remodeling projects, let’s start from ways of conserving water. There are many high-quality faucets in a range of styles that match every look. Most new models are made so that they can’t exceed 2.2 gallons per minute, while those with WaterSense level are guaranteed to stay below the federal standard of 1.5 gallons per minute. Such a faucet can save you more than 500 gallons per year. Similarly, an aerated showerhead with a WaterSense label ensures that the product meets the EPA standard of using 2.0 gallons per minute, which can amount to savings of 2,900 gallons per year. Since the toilet is one of the biggest water wasters in a home, upgrading to a low flush model can cut the amount of water that is flushed in half. Some municipalities even offer rebates for water-conserving upgrades to reduce the cost of your investment.
Get an energy audit
Before you even start planning your remodeling project, you should apply for an energy audit. This will help you identify the most critical spots in your house, as well as the most cost-effective ways to make your home more sustainable. According to some studies, 20% of carbon emissions in the US come from older, energy-inefficient homes which waste more energy than new ones. By including an energy audit in your renovation process, you won’t only reduce your energy bills, but also contribute to the rising problem of home emissions. It`s a win-win situation for both you and the planet.
Green window upgrade
New windows aren’t just about letting more natural light into your room. Unfortunately, many older homes have windows which aren’t designed with energy efficiency in mind. Up to 25% of your heating bill is nothing but the heater working harder to compensate for the warm air escaping through the windows. If you consider replacing windows as a part of your home remodel, check out these double glazed Ecoline Windows which are custom made for each client using high-performance frames. Apart from being highly energy efficient, these windows are sound insulating and resistant to heat. That makes them a great option for homes in areas prone to bushfires.
Improved lighting
While light fixtures come in a variety of designs and styles to fit into any room décor, sustainability-wise, it’s the choice of lightbulbs that makes all the difference in reducing your home’s carbon footprint. LED bulbs are ideal for renovation projects since apart from classic pear-shaped bulb they now come in many variants. That includes tubes, strips, filament Edison-style LEDs, as well as floodlights for accenting the outdoor features. However, the biggest point of going with LEDs is that they are up to 70-90% more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer. By using dimmer switches alongside LED lights you can save even more energy while being able to set the light level for the right mood, whether it’s an intimate dinner or watching the game with the guys.
VOC-free paints, coatings, and finishes
That smell of the freshly painted walls is not something you should have in an eco-friendly home. That smell comes from volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals gas off a variety of products like house cleaners, new furniture, rugs, and paints. The problem is that airing the room for a couple of days isn’t enough. These harmful vapors are still released long after the coat has dried. The health effects associated with VOCs can be both short- and long-term, ranging from headaches, nausea, dizziness to respiratory diseases, and according to some research, even cancer. In your remodeling projects, make sure to use strictly VOC-free paints, especially in indoor areas.
Leaning to the green side in your home remodel doesn’t have to be complicated. Yet, many people start with the most demanding projects, only to abandon the whole idea of sustainable renovation. It’s important to tackle the easier sub-projects first, and then advance to the more complex ones. Apart from reducing the running costs and environmental footprint, homes which achieve certain standards of energy and water efficiency may qualify for a National Green Building Standard certificate, which is a nice bonus to the ROI when the time comes to sell.
