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Not only will a green remodel reduce the ecological footprint of your household, but it will also help you create a healthy environment and increase your savings. While some green updates and improvements might require a sizeable amount of money, they are bound to pay off in the long run because they will lead to a decrease in your energy or water consumption.
Start with an audit
Before remodelling your house, you should conduct an energy audit to gain insight into your energy consumption. By conducting a series of tests, or having someone else do this for you, you’ll reveal energy deficiencies in your house. An audit will pinpoint any air leaks, inadequate insulation, equipment inefficiencies, etc., and enable you to tackle the most critical areas first.
Green roofing
Another way to reduce your energy consumption is making your roof eco-friendly. Since green roofs reflect the UV rays, they prevent the overheating of your home, especially your attic, which is important during the summer. In addition, you can have solar panels installed and use solar energy to keep your home warm in the winter.
Eco-friendly flooring
Nothing looks more stylish than beautiful hardwood floors, and with eco-friendliness being more popular than ever, you can have flooring that is both trendy and green. One of the most popular green options is flooring made from reclaimed wood. Since reclaimed wood has already been used, there’s no need for cutting down new trees. You can also have floors made from other reclaimed materials, such as stone or terracotta tiles.
However, you don’t have to use only reclaimed materials to have eco-friendly flooring. The most popular green flooring materials also include bamboo, cork, marble, linoleum, and others. However, the major advantage of reclaimed materials is the fact that no new materials need to be produced.
Repairs and fixes
Once you’ve detected sources of energy loss or other damage, you can move on to smart repairs. Repairing all damage is of the utmost importance because they can affect energy-efficiency of your home. Thus, make sure to repair any air and water leaks, holes in windows and doors, and other possible sources of energy and water loss. When taking care of the electrical issues, remember that this type of work requires professional experience. As a matter of fact, in some countries, like in Australia, there are strict regulations against unlicensed work. That's why every Aussie relies on the help of a competent Sydney electrician, and leaves all electrical work to professionals.
Proper insulation
Proper insulation is of the utmost importance if you want to reduce your energy bills and energy consumption. Once your home is well-insulated, there will be no need for an excessive use of your cooling and heating systems. When insulating your house , make sure to insulate your attic, as well, because heath goes up and can be easily wasted.
Water-saving fixtures
Designing a green home also entails reducing your water consumption, which will have a positive impact on the environment and reduce your utility bills. There is a range of green upgrades that can help you reduce your water consumption. Among the most important ones is installing a low-flow toilet, possibly with a dual flushing option. Since your toilet uses a large amount of water, even more than your washing machine or dishwasher, it goes without saying that this update can make a big difference. If you’re not planning to replace your existing toilet with a new, green one, then make sure that your old one functions properly and that the tank doesn’t leak. If you notice a leak, take care of it as soon as possible because it can be a major source of water loss.
Among other water-saving updates are the installation of eco-friendly faucets and showerheads. For example, you can install motion sensor faucets that will prevent you from wasting water when you don’t need it. As for the showerheads, there are low-flow fixtures that will reduce your use of both energy and water because the control both the heating and flow.
Energy-efficient lighting
Switching to eco-friendly lighting can also help you reduce your energy bills and ecological footprint. The greenest and healthiest option is using natural light as much as possible. You can easily achieve this by having skylights installed – not only will you save energy, but your space will breathe with an atmosphere of airiness and openness. As for artificial lighting, you need to change your incandescent lights if you haven’t already. Not only are they inefficient, they are also unhealthy, because they emit carbon dioxide. Instead, you should replace them with LEDs, which are both healthier and energy-saving.
Designing a green home will ensure that you and your family live in a healthy environment while simultaneously reducing the ecological footprint. In addition, these eco-friendly remodel ideas will reduce your utility bills and increase your savings.
