A 2015 survey shows that 60 percent of home improvement projects today are eco-friendly.

Therefore, it’s easy to see why the demand for eco friendly homes is growing.

When you decide to remodel your home, you open yourself to new possibilities when it comes to designing and styling your home.

With recent trends gravitating towards sustainable home construction, why not take your time to consider ways to turn your home into one that’s environmentally friendly?

Most homeowners report a decrease in monthly utility bills when they make their home eco-friendly. In addition, the survey also says four in five homebuyers don’t mind paying more for an eco home.

So why wait? The following piece looks at various ways to help make your home more earth-friendly during your remodel.

Start from Scratch

Building a greener house usually means following a carefully considered plan, so there’s no need to make adjustments after the bulk of the work is done.

You should go for a “passive” or airtight home. This kind of home is unbelievably energy-efficient, which is one aspect of eco friendly houses. They’re designed to not leak any heat or air, which happens with standard homes that have poor insulation or gaps.

Passive homes retain heat, which helps you save plenty of money and energy for keeping your house warm.

Passive homes are 3-8 percent costlier when built but in the long-term, they’re far less expensive because they considerably cut down the amount of heat wasted. And more importantly, they help in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions.

Use Sustainable Materials

From the flooring of your home to the frame outside, sustainable construction materials can decrease the impact of your building project on the environment.

Wood is a great renewable energy source as long as you get it from a supplier who practices sustainable planting.

Flooring is an area where new eco-friendly products that are great for climate control and home insulation ratings are thriving. This kind of modern flooring includes cork, bamboo, and linoleum.

Linoleum is eco-friendly because it’s made of renewable natural materials. Many designers, builders, and homeowners are choosing it for flooring because it lasts quite long–25-40 years–and it’s completely recyclable at the end of its life.

Use Renewable Sources of Energy

Our earth doesn’t have infinite reserves of fossil fuels. And the media is constantly reminding us of that.

The issue is no longer about the environment but about the economy. Energy prices are soaring and people are beginning to use renewable sources of energy and becoming self-sufficient.

When it comes to renewable energy, solar panels for home are a clear choice as they can power both the electrical and light appliances in your house. Other types of solar panels store heat and then supply it when needed.

Hydro and wind power depend on where you live. If your house is on a higher ground, installing a windmill can be an ideal option for you. The same goes for hydropower–it’s an ideal choice if there’s an unruly river near your home or the climate is characterized by heavy and frequent rains throughout the year. 

Always keep in mind, if your home uses solar, or hydro or wind it is generated as DC power which requires DC power conversion equipment convert it into AC power to work with normal appliances.

Replace Old Appliances

Your old household appliances like boilers, stoves, and fridges could be wasting oodles of energy.

Although this could be a costly exercise, replacing your appliances with energy-efficient ones will prove hugely beneficial in terms of you having a more energy-efficient home.

Be Cautious with Your Water Usage

If you live in an area with lots of rainfall, you should install a tank to harvest the rainwater and cut down on the water usage in your house and garden. You can also minimize your water use by buying good hose reels in various lengths.

If you have issues with a composting toilet, then consider buying environmentally-friendly toilets that still reduce the needless water usage.

Simple water-saving tricks, such as having a shower rather than a bath and brushing your teeth with the tap closed are also worth a try.

Use Recycled Materials to Insulate Your Home

Insulating your home with recycled materials is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also extremely cost-effective.

Recycled materials such as wood, wool, cotton or newspapers can really be beneficially in insulating your home both in the short and long-term. For instance, if you’re considering replacing the windows of your home, you can do so with recycled steel.

Use Energy-efficient Windows in Your Eco Home

Energy star windows help not only to dramatically bring down heating and cooling expenses, but also provide an excellent sound-proof environment.

Therefore, if you’re trying to have an eco friendly home or you want to replace windows, choose energy star windows. They’re eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

Improve Lighting

There’s a wide range of light fixtures available and you can find those that go with your new home decor.

Thankfully, there are lots of light bulbs available that will lower your carbon footprint and give you the right lighting for your home.

LED lights are an excellent option since they last 10X longer than fluorescent bulbs. In fact, they’re currently the most energy-efficient light bulbs on the market.

In addition, dimmer switches help to save energy while providing your room with the right lighting. Keep it dimmer for small, cozy settings and make it brighter for dinner parties.

Decorate with Older Materials

Using pre-owned or vintage furniture in your room decor can reduce your home’s overall carbon footprint.

Buying secondhand furniture reduces wastage of furniture in the world. Although it might take some time to get what you want, browsing through flea markets and thrift stores can be very rewarding once you’ve found the ideal set for your eco friendly house.

Use Eco Paints

Are you aware that standard paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted in your home’s environment for five years after painting?

To avoid this, be sure to go for water and plant-based paints.

Final Thoughts

Ready to remodel your home? Consult your architect, builder, landscaper, and local home builders’ society before renovating your house and all through the process. This will ensure you get a good eco home for your loved ones.  If you would like to improve the quality of your roof to be more eco friendly consider Jasper Roofing Contractors.

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