Eco-friendly renovations offer a lot of benefits aside from the typical reasons for doing a renovation. They reduce your utility bills, saving you money in the long run, they benefit our environment by reducing your home’s carbon emissions and resource consumption, and when selling your house they can give your property an edge on the real estate market. An added bonus is that there’s also a number of incentives going around that you can take advantage of to lower the cost of the upgrades (check out our Incentive Finder for a list). Here we’re going to take a look at ten of the top eco-friendly home renovations you can do.
1. Insulation
Increasing or improving insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your energy consumption as well as make your home more comfortable.
In addition to being an inexpensive project, it’s a great way to heating and air conditioning costs, so it will pay for itself in no time.
You can also use cellulose and fiberglass insulation, which are made from recycled materials and are much more eco-friendly than other types of insulation materials.
And when you’re doing basement remodeling, you can use foam boards that are made from recycled plastic bottles. Hire an experienced contractor who will ensure a safe and secure installation, however.
2. Solar Panels
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Use this handy checklist on your next project to keep track of all the ways you can make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.
One way to reduce your energy bills and help the environment is by installing solar panels because these can be used to generate electricity, hot water and even heat for your home.
Solar panels are becoming increasingly affordable and many companies and governments offer discounts or incentives for their installation. Plus, the money homeowners save on energy costs over the years makes this an excellent investment.
To maximize the efficiency of your solar panels, make sure to install them in an area where they will receive direct sunlight for most of the day. It is also important to shop around for the best deals and find a qualified installation contractor. If you’re experienced with installation and you’d like to start up a business as a contractor, check out 7 Tips to Running a Green Home Repair Business for some helpful advice.
3. Energy-Efficient Windows
Replacing your old, single-pane windows with more energy-efficient ones is another eco-friendly renovation you could consider. Energy-efficient windows will help keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter, reducing the amount of energy needed for heating and air conditioning.
Energy-efficient windows are also designed with low-e coatings that reduce UV rays and glare, which will help protect your floors, furniture and other items from fading. These coatings can also reduce the amount of heat loss, both from the house to the outside in winter, and from the outside to inside, in the summer.
You can opt for double-glazed or triple-glazed windows, which will provide better insulation and reduce the cost of your energy bills even more.
In addition to window installation, installing weatherstripping or caulking around doors, windows and other openings can help prevent air infiltration, improving the energy efficiency of your home while also reducing heating and cooling costs. It also helps reduce drafts in the house, providing more comfort and helping prevent moisture damage.
4. Rainwater Collection Systems
Another way to become more eco-friendly at home is by installing a rainwater collection system. These systems allow you to capture rainwater from your roof and use it for watering plants, flushing toilets and other tasks.
This will not only reduce your water bills but will also help provide you with a steadier supply of water if you live in an area that’s prone to droughts in the summer.
If you live in a location that receives high amounts of rainfall, this system will be even more beneficial, as it will allow you to collect and use the excess water for many more purposes.
5. Cool Roofs
Canada’s winters will likely remain cold for some time, but there is no question that the summers are starting to heat up more and more. Rather than wasting a lot of money on air conditioning, people are turning to cool roofs. These are roofs that reflect the sun’s heat, rather than absorb it.
There are a range of materials that are used in cool roofs, including coatings, membranes, shingles, different types of stone, metal and tiles. Each of these materials has a high solar reflective capacity. Installing a cool roof can help keep your home significantly cooler in the summertime, thereby lowering your energy bills.
6. LED Lighting
Installing energy-saving LED lighting can help reduce your energy consumption significantly, and is one of the simplest green renovation projects you can do.
LED bulbs last much longer than other types of lights and are available in many different colours, so you can find the one that best suits your needs.
Their durability means they will not need to be replaced as often as other types of bulbs, so this is one renovation you’ll rarely need to repeat. However, it is important to ensure that the lights are installed correctly, as this will maximize their energy efficiency.
7. Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are a great way to save money on your energy bills and help reduce your home’s energy consumption. They can be programmed to turn off when you’re away from home or when there is no one in the room, and they can also be used to adjust temperatures based on the time of day or season.
This way, you will not have to worry about leaving the furnace or air conditioner running when it is not necessary, and you will save money by making sure your home’s temperature stays at an optimal level.
Installing a smart thermostat is a simple DIY project that could give you big returns in terms of energy saving.
8. Water-Saving Fixtures
Replacing your old fixtures with water-saving ones is another easy eco-friendly renovation to do at home. Water-efficient fixtures are designed to reduce the amount of water consumed, and this will not only help you save money on your water bills but it will also help reduce the strain on our planet’s resources.
When installing these fixtures, it is important to make sure that they are compatible with your plumbing system and that they are installed by a qualified technician or an experienced DIYer.
Additionally, it is a good idea to look for fixtures that are certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program, which will ensure that they meet certain standards of efficiency.
9. Use Recycled Building Materials
These last two points on the list are not specifically renovations, but rather tips on how to make your renovations more sustainable.
Instead of buying virgin materials for your renovation, consider using recycled building materials to update floors, backsplashes, countertops and other parts of the house. They can be a great way to save money, as these materials tend to be much cheaper than traditional ones. There are many different types of recycled building materials available, such as recycled glass and plastic, reclaimed wood or even old tires.
Using these materials can help you reduce your consumption of new materials while also creating a unique look for your home renovation project. Just make sure to check the quality of the materials before using them to ensure they meet all safety and performance standards.
10. Use Repurposed Materials
An even better option than using recycled materials is to use repurposed materials. Searching for existing materials that you can reuse can save you costs and its avoid wasting materials that otherwise could go to landfill.
There are a number of ways you can approach this. If, in the process of your renovation, you’re doing demolition, you could reuse the materials in other parts of your home or for outdoor projects. Perhaps you can take some old lumber and use it to make planters or raised beds for the garden. Or if you want to use reclaimed materials for the renovation itself, you can source them from marketplaces online, from salvage yards or by asking around.
Also, swapping preowned decor is becoming more and more popular. There are now websites where you can find not only furniture but parts, trimmings, you name it. This can be both a sustainable and fun way to redecorate parts of your home.
By implementing these eco-friendly renovations, you can not only reduce your environmental impact but also save money on energy and water bills in the long run. By making small changes now, you’ll be able to make a big difference in the future.
Whether you’re planning a big renovation or just making small changes to your home, these eco-friendly renovations will help you create a more sustainable and comfortable living environment.
Feature image: Eugene Str; Image 1: Emily Powers
