Use Salvaged, Recycled, and Reclaimed Material Visit salvage yards and antique shops to find used materials and furniture for your remodeling project. The more secondhand material that you use, the smaller your carbon footprint. Reclaimed wood, for instance, can be a great choice for countertops, floors, walls, and cabinetry. Antique shops can offer a nice selection of fixtures, doorknobs, and furniture. You’ll end up saving money, helping the environment, and you can even find styles that you wouldn’t be able to find with newer materials. Reuse First, Recycle Second If you have to tear down walls, gut cabinets, or otherwise remove household material, see if you can reuse it in your renovation. Be creative! Pretty much anything and everything can be reused, from wood to flooring, tiles, cabinetry, fixtures, and more. If you can’t find a way to reuse it in your own remodeling project, consider putting the material up for free on craigslist – you might be surprised what people will take off your hands. Other ways to keep your household materials in circulation include antique stores, yard sales, salvage yards, and thrift stores. Insulate Well and Ventilate Well Any insulation at all helps contribute to a more energy-efficient home. The better you insulate your new additions, the less you need to spend on both heating and cooling. And an effective ventilation system helps to regulate temperature. Ventilation can include the normal ventilation ducts that connect your rooms to the central heating and cooling system, but also think about adding more windows, fans, and air circulation. Adding louvres on the second floor of your home can help hot air escape more easily. Aim for Energy Efficiency The sun is your best friend when it comes to heating naturally. The more light you have, the better. An enclosed sun porch, for instance, can trap the sun’s warmth on cool winter mornings. And if you ventilate well, you can circulate that air into the rest of your home. In the same vein, adding options to block sunlight, such as retractable awnings and dark window blinds, can save money on your air conditioning bill. If you’re replacing appliances, aim for the ones that save the most on water and electricity, since these will contribute to a lower utility bill. Be Creative Finally, think outside the box. For instance, an outdoor kitchen doesn’t just let you spend more time outdoors, it cuts energy costs. What many people don’t realize is that often the heat that comes from a stove can combat the cooling system of refrigerators and freezers. https://www.gbgeneralcontrs.com/green-ify-with-these-home-eco-friendly-renovation-tips/By cooking outdoors, you’ll keep that heat outside. Likewise, by keeping a freezer or second refrigerator in a cool basement, you can potentially reduce their power consumption. What other ways can you think of to help make your home more efficient and eco-friendly? Reused materials and creative ideas can go a long way towards saving the environment and cutting back on bills.]]>
