What Separates a Sustainable Renovation From a Standard One?
Making improvements to your home can increase value and up the comfort factor. Those who are also eco-conscious may want to embrace sustainability over traditional remodeling methods.
You might worry about added costs if you’re on a budget or be unsure where to start with an environmentally friendly renovation. Do the benefits of going with a greener remodel outweigh the costs?
What Is the Difference Between a Sustainable and Standard Renovation?
The building industry and developed areas are huge contributors to CO2 emissions and waste. As people become more aware, regulatory requirements may dictate different construction methods.
Embracing a green renovation is about more than just the materials used. The methods contractors choose can also protect or disturb the environment. Factors you should consider include the long-term usage of items and energy efficiency. Knowing what to use with what project to be as green as possible can also help.
Sustainable Materials
Using materials that have a lower impact on the environment is an easy switch. For building projects, such as an addition or adding walls, look for reclaimed wood or materials that renew faster, such as bamboo. You’ll find green products for nearly any home project you can imagine.
If redoing a driveway, you can use materials such as asphalt or concrete for standard renovations. Concrete is an eco-friendly choice because it uses sustainable material and reflects light, allowing you to use less lighting and save on energy costs. Some companies are also turning to recycling old roadways instead of making the product from scratch.
When selecting the materials to use for your renovation, consider more than just money. Many green building products have a similar cost as their standard counterparts. Those priced a bit higher may have a longer life span, evening out the expense.
Also, look at any energy credits from federal or state governments. For example, if you install solar power, you may be able to recoup a portion of the expense via tax credits. Talk to a tax professional in your area about what eco-friendly benefits fall in any given tax year.
Green Remodeling Methods
Look for companies on the cutting edge of conservation. Any type of building project can pollute local waters and harm the ecosystems near you. Construction waste is an issue with all kinds of renovation projects. Standard methods result in massive amounts of waste without any concern for reusing materials. Sending old items to landfills can pollute waterways and create gases that harm the environment, impacting humans and wildlife near the landfill.
Sustainable renovation tries to repurpose old materials and reuse as much as possible to minimize the environmental impact. Some companies are turning waste into recycled resources in creative ways, such as collecting only concrete to make the process easier.
When gathering quotes for your recycling projects, take into account the company’s measures to prevent further damage to the ecosystem and reuse as much as possible. The business should also consider the worksite when assessing the environmental toll. How carefully does it clean up after a project’s completion?
The last thing you want to do is create an issue for local wildlife or eventually pollute the waterways your drinking water comes from. Take the time to research each company thoroughly before committing to a purchase.
Lasting Products
With standard renovation projects, people replace whatever they want refreshed. They might choose based on color, texture or pricing. With a sustainable remodel, you’ll reuse materials, get things used and invest in items that last as long as possible to reduce the manufacturing process’s toll on the Earth.
For example, if you need to replace your roof, going with a longer-lasting material can reduce the runoff and waste from manufacturing new tiles or other types of roofing. You may spend a little more upfront, but you should recoup the price in the time the item lasts before needing to be replaced again.
Reusing items can sometimes save you money. You might find painting your kitchen cabinets gives you the renovation you desire with very little impact on the environment.
Building features with volatile organic compounds (VOC) can release harmful gases, like benzene. In addition to immediate problems, such as headaches, high-VOC materials have been linked to health issues like nervous system damage and cancer.
You’ll want to ensure your builder uses low-VOC materials to create healthier indoor air quality. It isn’t helpful to do a green renovation and battle with a reaction to the items used later. When repurposing old products, be aware of the potential for high-VOC materials that were used before manufacturers realized the issues they might cause.
It gives you the most benefit when you make greener choices that also prevent indoor pollution that might harm your family and pets. Invest in green, low-VOC building materials for the best bang for your buck.
Energy Efficiency
Replacing old appliances is one way to reduce energy consumption and create a greener home. With standard renovations, you just go with whatever aesthetic you prefer for your appliances. You might try to find the best deal or positive reviews for a refrigerator or oven. However, with sustainable renovation, you’re going to focus on energy ratings. Since kitchen redos have the highest return on investment among all home projects, spending a bit more on a refrigerator could be absorbable.
With a standard renovation, you might still choose some energy-efficient features, such as better heating and cooling systems or LED lighting. However, with a sustainable reno, you’ll intentionally select each item with an eye on how much energy efficiency you can squeeze out of it.
You can also choose to go with triple-pained windows instead of double. More of the hot and cold will stay inside, so you will spend less on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Simple fixes such as adding weatherstripping around doors and anywhere air escapes are inexpensive changes you can add to any renovation project.
A focus on energy efficiency ensures you reduce your carbon footprint and protect the local environment during the renovation process. For example, if you invest in a new HVAC system that uses 20% less energy, you’ll reduce your power bill and your environmental impact at the same time.
Green Renovations Cost Versus Value
Although a standard may have lower costs upfront, you’ll eventually pay for the lack of durability and maintenance fees to keep your home running smoothly. Spending a bit more on the front end ensures lower costs on the back end.
You may spend a bit more on some materials to ensure they are sustainable and have the lowest manufacturing impact on the environment possible. However, you’ll also gain higher-quality materials and the assurance of knowing your project brought the least amount of harm possible to the Earth and preserved it for future generations. Spending slightly more to ensure your renovation is more sustainable brings peace of mind and a sense of well-being.
