If you are planning on undertaking a home remodeling project that involves multiple rooms, this could be the perfect opportunity to work towards making your home more eco-friendly. Everything from the flooring you choose to the insulation you use in your attic and everything in between can affect your home’s energy efficiency, utility costs and indoor air quality. By choosing eco-friendly materials in your home remodeling project, you can transform your home into a comfortable, high-quality and energy-efficient oasis. You don’t even have to go totally green to benefit from lower energy costs and a healthier living environment. Anything you do to make your home more eco-friendly, be it using more environmentally responsible building materials or installing energy-efficient windows, is a step in the right direction. For more information about eco-friendly home remodeling in Seattle, contact Eakman Construction today and find out if going green is the right choice for your home.
Eco-Friendly Home Remodeling Strategies
A major concern for homeowners considering an eco-friendly home remodel is how “going green” will impact the total cost of the remodeling project. The truth is, most eco-friendly building materials are competitive in terms of cost, and in some cases, they may even be cheaper and longer-lasting than traditional building materials. Green renovations can also translate to significant long-term energy savings, which means you can reduce your overall home utility costs. The following are some eco-friendly changes Seattle homeowners can make during home remodels to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy costs:
- Install double-pane windows with wood or vinyl frames
- Caulk, seal and weatherstrip to reduce energy consumption
- Install low-flush toilets and low-flow faucets and showerheads in bathrooms
- Insulate as much as possible
- Install a whole house fan
- Plant deciduous trees outside East and West facing windows to create natural shade
- Install awnings outside of windows
- Use LED light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs
- Install skylights to take advantage of natural lighting
- Take into account sunlight and air movement in your home design
- Upgrade heating and cooling systems
- Tailor home lighting for individual spaces
Create a Healthier Indoor Living Environment
According to estimates, Americans spend up to 90% of their lives indoors. Unfortunately, many traditional building materials commonly used in home remodels release harmful chemicals into the air on a regular basis, which contributes to indoor air pollution. Eco-friendly home remodeling projects are designed to reduce or eliminate these harmful contaminants and create a healthier indoor environment for you and your loved ones.
The following are some eco-friendly home remodeling strategies that can help minimize your family’s exposure to formaldehyde and other potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC):
- Use low- or no-VOC paints, wood treatments and sealants
- Use recycled-content fiberglass, cellulose or rock wool insulation
- For flooring, use wood, cork, bamboo, concrete, natural linoleum, or stone and ceramic tile, rather than carpet or vinyl flooring
- Ventilate your home properly
- Use recycled building materials or materials manufactured with recycled content
- Install filters on showerheads and faucets
- Take advantage of the natural heating capacity of sunlight so you can run your furnace less
There are many different ways to make your home eco-friendly whether you’re building new or remodeling. Reach out to us at Eakman Construction to get started on your next project.