7 Tips to Make Your Home More Environmentally Friendly

Home remodeling is a good investment. Replacing old and worn out house siding can increase a home?s value by 10%. Kitchen remodeling is very popular, nearly 70% of homeowners who are planning to remodel their home, want to work on their kitchens. Any upgrade to a kitchen can have a return on investment (ROI) of about 73%. More and more people are looking to reduce their carbon footprints and will hire an environmental architect to build to help remodel their homes.

Environmental Remodeling Ideas:

1. Think of new ways to use what you already have. Before you start the remodeling process, go through your home and find things that you can reuse. This can include light fixtures, flooring such as tile, bricks and molding. Ceramic tiles can last for centuries. If you want to place a tile floor with a hardwood one, do not toss the tile. Save it. If you have a light fixture in one room that you no longer want there, can you use it elsewhere?
2. Look at reclaimed materials. Any environmental architect can tell you that some reclaimed materials can be really beautiful. Reclaimed wood, for instance, has become a very popular option for flooring, walls and even counter-tops. Using these materials can save you a lot of money and time. All of the energy and effort that would go into creating something new is avoided when you use reclaimed materials. And it is infinitely better for the environment.
3. Do not send what you do not want or need to the landfill, donate it! You can donate a wide variety of things from your home. Those lighting fixtures you do not want can be used by someone else. Take them to a local charity. You can donate your appliances and cabinets. Ask your environmental architect what materials in your home can be repurposed and reused and donate them.
4. Look for the Energy Star logo. Most kitchen remodeling projects include upgrading the appliances. When you look at new appliances, make sure the ones you buy have the Energy Star logo. Let your contractor know that you want to get the most energy efficient appliances as possible.
5. Consider buying used materials and items. Not only can you save a lot of money by getting pre-owned items but you help extend the lifespan of those items, you keep them out of landfills and participate in the recycling process. There are numerous resellers of home materials and other items like cabinets, which can be very pricey. Some salvage shops will have great cabinets that are in near new condition. You can get some really unique items at antique shops, too.
6. Make your home more fuel efficient. Good insulation will cut your energy costs and make your home more environmentally friendly. If you are replacing your windows, you can select windows that keep heat out in the summer and keep it in during the winter.
7. Make your paint selections environmentally friendly. Low voc paints are healthier for your family and the planet. Many of these paints do not require you use a primer so they make the process cheaper and easier, too.