You will ordinarily invest in the best designs and materials for the construction of your dream house. Like most things, however, even the best of elements will degrade over time and might not look as good as before. You, therefore, might need to remodel your home. While in the past, this meant a substantial monetary investment, this is no longer the case. You can now renovate your home at the lowest budget by opting to go green.
Focusing your home remodeling in Provo or any other place around eco-sustainability might seem easy. It nonetheless needs the input and expertise of a well-versed contractor to ensure that the remodel is not only environmentally friendly but looks good as well. Here are some green construction ideas that will minimize your home’s negative impact on the environment:
Passive Designs
Using a passive design for your home’s construction makes it energy efficient and allows you to interact with natural elements right in its interiors. A passive design encompasses the use of solar rays for the cooling and heating of your interiors based on a region’s climate. Homeowners in cold climates, for example, should install more windows on their property’s northern side to absorb maximum solar heat. It would help if you also had eaves on these windows to shade your rooms from the summer sun and keep them cool.
Eco-Friendly Flooring Materials
The floor cover you pick can add or reduce your home’s energy efficiency. You should consider natural flooring materials to draw in heat. Brick and concrete floors, for instance, absorb daytime heat and keep rooms in sunny locations cool. Those who want a soft floor can settle for bamboo since this grows quickly even when cut. Reclaimed hardwood also works for those looking for a traditional floor design.
Green Roofs
What you choose for the top of your home will significantly impact your energy savings. Green flat roofs are among the most durable and will accommodate solar panels. These panels can be used to generate extra energy. Cool metal roofs with reflective surfaces also work since they retain heat in your interiors and reduce energy costs by around 20%.
Insulation
Insulation will make your home comfortable and energy-efficient. This should not just be installed under the roofs and on your walls. It would be best if you also insulated light switches, outlets, and fixtures using special insulated boxes. These boxes will not only minimize air leaks but also reduce fire hazards. If you opt to heat the foundation slab, ensure that you insulate its edges to avert heat loss.
VOC-Free Interiors
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the primary pollutants in homes. These are potentially carcinogenic and might cause lung and eye irritation, headaches, and nausea. You can avoid them in your remodeled home by opting for paints with minimal or no VOCs. Choose low VOC content in your varnish and flooring finishing as well.
Even if you did not make eco-friendly choices the first time you built your house, all is not lost. With the above ideas, you can transform it into a green dwelling with a remodeling project. Your home’s resale value will also increase with the ‘’eco-sustainable factor’’ the remodel introduces.
