Get A Jump On Eco-friendly Remodeling

Most homeowners are looking for an eco-friendly approach to remodeling these days. Also, there are some who fear that green techniques are expensive, but luckily that is not the case. In fact, green remodeling practices are usually cheaper than the traditional methods and more energy-efficient.

Materials

- Consider buying your materials locally.
- Composite wood products are mostly made of recycled wood and plastics. They are also stable in strength and meticulousness.
- Water-based paints and finishes are more eco-friendly too.

Flooring

- Avoid flooring materials that are produced with volatile organic compounds as they can contaminate indoor air.
- Instead, Choose products made from renewable resources like linoleum and natural-fiber carpets.
- Other than these, you can consider carpet-type flooring, hardwood, bamboo, stone, ceramic tile, etc.

Insulation

- Install insulated glass for windows.
- Loose-fill insulation made from recycled paper can be used for insulation.
- Ensure that the heating and cooling ducts of your house are properly insulation.

Solar energy usage

Make sure that your builder does proper solar orientation, window and ventilation placement by which you can maximize the heating effects of the sun during winter, and reduce them in summer.

Appliances

Go through the energy label guides that are attached to the appliances and choose those that offer the most energy-efficiency. They can make much difference in your annual energy consumption.

Vapor barriers

Vapor barriers can improve the quality of indoor air when installed correctly with the proper mechanical ventilation system. They can restrict the flow of moisture and other pollutants in the house.

Drainage

The addition shouldn’t disrupt the original drainage patterns of the property. The best way to avoid this is to make sure that your general contractor plans the sitting properly. Poor drainage can cause the growth of mold and mildew inside the building walls.

Cross-ventilation

Nowadays, the exterior walls of additions are built more tightly, resulting in inadequate ventilation. Thus, make sure that the floor plan includes windows on at least two walls in a room.

Lighting

It is best to make use of low-voltage lighting system such as LED, fluorescent or halogen in which the transformer steps down the voltage, thus transforming most of the energy to light.

Take these eco-friendly measures in your building process and do your part in preserving Mother Nature.

The author is working as the head of a civil engineering department at a reputed company. In his spare time, he writes articles on home remodeling, builders and renovation ideas. To know more about this company, visit http://www.reconstructkc.com/