Unless it is done well, it is not good for the environment; whatever the extent of eco-friendliness, renovating a house calls for making its impact low on the environment while saving on expenditures with a lowered carbon footprint.
You have done your bit for the environment by recycling and a hybrid, maybe by switching to stainless steel straws instead of plastic ones- Kudos! While all this sounds good, do you know that your home is one of the biggest contributors to your carbon footptint? Consider all aspects of your house-from insulation to water use, electrical wiring-and they all have an impact on your being sustainable.
So, an easy way for you to save energy while doing that is to plan any form of energy remodeling: an addition to the kitchen or bath and putting up a beautiful new look for the space.
We had a chance to catch up with some sustainability experts regarding the most effective environmental impacts of residing in your renovated home. Here is what we gleaned.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Major Home Renovations
1.Wastes from Material:
Demolition, during renovations, creates one of the greatest wastes. Old cabinets, appliances, floors, and walls usually end up in landfills. While some items may truly be “unusable”, sending it all to a dump contributes mightily to carbon dioxide emissions.
What is great is that there are ways you can keep your old possessions from the landfill. You can donate used items to second-hand shops, or pass them off to DIY fanatics or other homeowners looking to stretch a budget. That refrigerator may still have a few good years left! And if you’re tearing up hardwood floors or tile, salvage yards will likely be happy to take those off your hands.
Countless places exist for recycling or donating old materials: even something small like doorknobs, light fixtures, or cabinetry hardware can give new life. In fact, reducing the waste caused by any demolition works could be one of the simplest ways to ensure that your renovation is sustainable.
- Electricity and Heating:
Another major player in terms of carbon footprints is electricity and heating. Thankfully, by practicing some energy-saving techniques, you could keep your house comfortable.
Start with a home energy audit. Special teams assess your home for energy waste — whether it is old insulation, leaky windows, or dated appliances. With that knowledge, you’ll know where energy was being lost, and you can set out to rectify that. Again, in the meantime, you keep saving, as energy bills go down too!
If you plan to replace your HVAC system, consider an Energy Star-rated unit, which uses less energy and keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer. Even consider a geothermal option: although initial expenditures are higher, savings could amount to 70% in energy costs. It is a whopping investment but worth every dime for your economy and the earth.
Sustainable materials for your renovation
Not every facet of your renovations must represent a high degree of sustainability in order to make a difference. Substituting a few materials or appliances for ecologically viable alternatives can create great long-lasting positive results.
Here are some great alternatives for some of the common materials used in home renovation:
Windows: Double-pane windows improve insulation, helping in reducing heating or cooling costs.
the same job.
Lighting: LED light bulbs produce less heat and last longer compared to incandescent bulbs.
Renewable options for the replacement of any of these items can make a big impact with not too much additional cost.
Five Renovation Projects That Can Cut Carbon Emissions
Want to go further? Here are five high-impact renos that will keep cutting that carbon for eons to come: - Solar Panel Installation:
Now solar’s one of the best ways to cut energy usage in a house. With the cost of solar panels generally plummeting, it’s cheaper than ever to slap some on your roof. Aside from cutting electricity costs, solar panels can actually hike your property value up by thousands of bucks. - Rewild Your Yard:
Is that grass really worth all the water and maintenance? Replace thirsty grass with perennials or ground covers, and you may lower your water bill while supporting the local ecosystem. Besides, you might spend the time saved on mowing and keep this eco-friendly little secret to yourself! Win-win for the natural world and yourself. - Passive Solar Design:
When designing an addition or redesigning your home layout, keep passive solar design in mind. This includes things with which you can take advantage of the sun’s properties, its heat, and its light for the least amount of cooling and heating you may require. Carefully orient windows, and make use of certain materials like concrete or brick that are capable of absorbing and gradually releasing heat, thereby cutting on energy consumption. - Seal Air Leaks: Air sealing may not sound like the fanciest of home improvements, but it is certainly one of the cheapest implementations for saving energy. Finding and sealing all the leaks in your home can bring down heating and cooling bills by as much as 15%, which is obviously better for your budget and saves on energy waste.
- Creating Smart Homes: Smart homes leverage technology to save energy. A smart thermostat, for instance, can help you control your heating and cooling from anywhere with Wi-Fi. Smart lights automatically turn off as they sense that you are no longer in the room, thus saving electricity. Small changes will end up saving you money and a sustainable lifestyle.
Financing Sustainable Home Renovations
Financing your home renovations can be one of the greatest challenges when going green- but there are a few things to help you. One of them is the RenoFi Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit.
These types of loans allow you to borrow against the projected value of your home after renovation, potentially granting you a bigger loan than you could get with traditional financing. With low fixed rates and very flexible borrowing options, such loans are quite a good option to fund your sustainable renovations.
A quick recap of the options:
RenoFi Home Equity Loan:
$20k-$500k in loan amounts
Fixed interest rates; terms of up to 20 years
Pay up to 90% of your home’s after-renovation value
RenoFi Home Equity Line of Credit:
$20k-$500k in loan amounts
Variable interest rates with 10-year interest-only period
Pay 90% of your home’s after-renovation value
With these financing options, it is just about possible to improve the green credentials of a home without making one broke.
Final Thoughts
The sustainable renovation of your house is of great benefit to both the environment and your wallet. Energy-efficient materials, waste minimization, and the appropriate selection of energy-efficient interventions to make your living environment greener will contribute to reducing maintenance costs for that very environment. Whether you are working on a grand scale or just a few small things, each endeavor can go a little way.
