Home Renovations

Home Remodeling

Are you looking to start an environmentally conscious home remodel? Then it is definitely worth your time and effort to learn about the different aspects of sustainability. A lot of people think that the word 'sustainability' is linked to sustainability in terms of raw materials. This is not true. In fact, 'sustainability' is related to the concept of efficiency or the reduction of the overall impact on the environment. Let us discuss these concepts further in this article.


Energy conservation - It is a widely held view that it is important to have a high energy consumption to have a high quality life. In fact, it has been found that a well-designed home remodel will have a very significant impact on the energy consumption of the home owner. Hence, designing your home with energy-efficient appliances and using energy efficient light bulbs are a great way of having a more eco-friendly home.


Pollution levels - Another important factor that comes into consideration when it comes to making an environmentally friendly home is the pollution levels in the neighborhood. If there are a large number of factories around, there would be a greater probability for toxic chemicals to be used during the construction process. These chemicals can pollute the air and thus the quality of the breathing air of the home owners. Hence, having air purifiers can help in protecting the health of the family members. Using car air-conditioning systems can also help reduce the pollution levels.


Energy Efficiency - It is a widely held view that energy consumption should be minimized as much as possible. By using only energy efficient appliances and energy saving light bulbs, the house is made more fuel-efficient. Even in homes where the family uses power tools to make repairs, these tools would not be employing as much power if they were using electricity. It is highly recommended that while remodeling one's home, energy efficiency should be given prime importance.


Reduce Home Energy Consumption - It is a widely held view that if a person spends less time in his or her home, his or her monthly energy consumption is going to increase. But by doing some home remodeling, it is possible to reduce the overall home energy consumption by at least 10%. This means that after finishing the remodeling, the house owner will be able to significantly minimize his or her monthly energy consumption. People can start by using light bulbs with a high wattage. They can then use only LED light bulbs that consume the least amount of energy.


Make the Right Choice - It is important to choose the right material for the home. For example, tiles can be used on the floors but using hardwood flooring may not be a good idea. Hardwood flooring is not only expensive but also requires extensive cleaning. On the other hand, there are alternatives like bamboo and cork flooring. In addition, there are also many types of natural stones which can be used on the home. The choice of the materials should be based on factors such as aesthetics and convenience.


Decorate With Eco-Friendly Furniture - Using simple and cheap eco-friendly furniture makes it possible to remodel the home without much effort. This means that you can save a lot of money. Besides this, green furnishing also helps in creating a healthier environment in the home. The use of clean and green furniture can help in making a home look spacious and airy.


These are just some of the many things that you can do to remodel your home in a green way. Once completed, you will realize that your efforts have not gone to waste. You will not only be able to save a lot of money but you will also be able to offer your home a better look. By using these green home remodeling tips, you will be able to get the maximum returns on your efforts. Therefore, start remodeling your home today and you will never regret doing so.



The way I see it, there are five things that make an environmentally conscious kitchen remodel possible. Number one is good planning. I think most people understand that the best way to make sure your house stays long-lasting and in good condition is to plan and implement a maintenance program for your home. The more thorough the plan, the less chance you have of encountering any problems along the way. So how do you create a detailed and effective maintenance plan for your home?


Start by collecting and comparing your appliances, cabinets, countertops, flooring, paint, flooring, lighting, water fixtures and faucets. You want to gather up every detail you can. If you have time, go into each room and do the same thing. After you have done that, take your measurements, and get your quotes. A good rule of thumb is to include all the major surfaces and appliances in the assessment.


Once you've got a quote and you know what your expenses are going to be, you can start working on your kitchen remodel. Look around your kitchen and consider how you could improve it. Do you need new countertops? Are you lacking cupboard space? How about eliminating clutter?


Here's a word of caution. Be realistic about your kitchen remodeling budget. If you're putting down a large amount of money, don't go on a spending spree. Remember, you're trying to save money. Remember too that green features cost more than regular features, so research the impact of the different types of green features. Remember to also consider your heating and cooling costs from using green energy sources as well.


Now that you've done your research, it's time to plan your project. You may want to hire a contractor or two to help with the effort. But if you're feeling up to it, plan to do it yourself. While it will take a bit of work, the end result will be a professionally designed environmentally conscious kitchen that will increase the value of your home for years to come. The kitchen renovation is part of a bigger plan for making your home a better place to live, one that you can be proud of.


Start by designing the new kitchen space. Make sure you choose durable, lightweight, and resistant materials. These things won't only make your life easier, they will make your home healthier as well. Once your kitchen space is measured and ready, get to work. Start with a good plan, one that includes the basic elements you want to incorporate in your kitchen design. You should include plenty of windows, a trash compactor outside, plenty of open floor space and plenty of built-in shelves.


If you're using a lot of non-natural ingredients, make sure they're certified and are produced from renewable resources. By using products that are natural and environmentally friendly, you will be contributing to a greener earth. There are many great kitchen product companies that offer items made from recycled glass and paper, and other natural and recyclable products. By buying products like these, you're not only saving the environment, you'll also be making your family and friends happier.


The right environmentally conscious kitchen remodel project will allow you to enjoy delicious meals, while creating an environmentally healthy space. It will increase the value of your home and make for a much more comfortable place to live. A green life style has become very popular, and it's easy to follow this trend once you have decided to make your home a little healthier and greener. Make it fun by incorporating some green ideas into your kitchen design.



An environmentally conscious bathroom remodel is a great idea. It makes sense to be concerned about the environment, and many homeowners are now taking that stance into their homes with an environmentally conscious bathroom remodel. However, it can be difficult to know exactly what steps to take to be "green" in this area of the home. There are a few general tips that bathroom remodeling contractors usually offer. These may not be exactly what you want to hear but can be very helpful to a conscientious homeowner who wants to make his or her bathroom a more environmentally friendly space.


First, you can buy recycled products for everything from toilet paper to toilet paper trays. This is especially true of paper towels, which have many uses beyond the simple cleaning function. For example, a roll of paper towels can be reused to dry baby's diapers, making a wonderful gift for a friend or family member who relies on cloth diapers. If you cannot buy recycled products, simply use a few inches of any clean damp cloth to clean underneath the sink and around the windows. The resulting faucet-less sink and countertops will require far less soap and water than the traditional model, and you will reduce the amount of harsh chemicals that are used in the process.


Water conservation is an important issue for homeowners today. Many cities and counties to restrict the amount of water that can be used for bathroom purposes. For homes that have already had these restrictions put in place, you can still decrease your water consumption by careful water usage around the household. For example, instead of running the dishwasher during a shower, fill the tub only enough to overflow it and then shut the tub down.


Toilets should have a low water consumption so that they do not dry out and crack after being filled with water for several hours. Toilets that are located near the washing machine or sewer line should also have smaller and more efficient models. Instead of running both the washing machine and the toilet at the same time, turn off the washing machine while turning on the toilet.


Reduce Your Paper Load Using a high-efficiency paper towel, instead of disposable paper towels, will help save money. It takes so much water to dry a towel, meaning that you are not only wasting water but wasting trees. The same goes for drying your hair with a towel, since it also takes a lot of water. Instead of purchasing and using a hair dryer, hang your hair straight with a flat iron. You will cut down on your usage of electricity, paper, and gas.


Be Mindful of the Chemicals Used in Cleaning Products Many cleaning products contain formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer. If you must use such products around the home, limit its use to the bathroom and avoid using other products in the bathroom while the cleaning agent is still in the washer or dryer. Instead of using regular shampoo, try a concentrated version made from vegetable oils and herbs. These have a milder impact on the environment than regular shampoo and are friendlier to your hair.


Limit Your Bathroom Water Use One of the biggest drains on water conservation is a bathroom and shower water usage. Turn the tap off when you are not in the shower or run a de-clogging program by having your toilet and shower head regularly checked. Also, avoid taking a bath while it is cold outside. A few short runs during winter helps considerably. When it comes to saving water, timing is everything.


If you are planning to remodel your bathroom yourself, there are a number of DIY guides available on the internet, or at your local library. They give you step-by-step instructions and lists of supplies you will need. However, if you are unsure about anything, you can always call a professional. As an environmentally conscious homeowner, making your remodeling project green doesn't have to cost a lot of money, as long as you implement these tips.

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Homeowners everywhere are wondering how to reduce carbon emissions at home. The threat of global warming and climate change is real, and we need to start putting a stop to this immediately. Luckily, there are a few really easy steps you can take to make a difference. Find out what these are in the rest of this article.


The first thing you can do to start reducing carbon emissions at home is to make sure your heating and cooling systems are working well. This is a simple step you can do yourself by simply testing the water temperature in your faucets or heating units. If they don't feel right or if they aren't efficient, then get them fixed. Not only is it better for the environment, but it will also save you money.


Another simple step you can take to reduce carbon emissions from your home is to think green. Reduce the amount of nonrenewable resources you're using in your home. Some of the easiest things to do are starting to turn lights and appliances off when not in use, or switching to energy efficient appliances. You may also want to consider getting a home power inverter. These can be expensive, but will pay for themselves in the long run by cutting down on power generation costs. They're especially great for vacation homes and those that are away from home for extended periods of time.


Something else you can do at home is to make sure you have high quality flooring installed. This can be quite simple - most tiles, linoleum and wood are actually made with low emission materials. There's always an option to have them upgraded, but most of the time you can purchase good quality tiles, linoleum and other materials without spending too much. Remember, all of these materials release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when they're being used, so having good quality flooring installed is a great way to reduce carbon emissions from your home.


Have your home appliances serviced regularly. Even if you're running your appliances completely off of electricity, you still need to service your home's heating and cooling systems. Even a new home needs annual service, and some of the appliances may need servicing more frequently than others. If you don't have a regular supply of oil, natural gas or electricity, it's important to have your home appliances serviced regularly so you can get the most efficient use out of your appliances. This also helps keep your air conditioner working properly, which can save money on your energy bills.


Consider buying or leasing a green home. Green homes can be just as efficient as traditional homes, but there are certain differences to consider when choosing a home energy model. The biggest difference is typically the amount of heat and cool air that is produced. A more energy-efficient model will generally require less natural gas or coal to operate, which means that the amount of carbon emissions will be lowered over time.


Choose good home energy saving appliances. You want to buy appliances that have as little heat loss as possible, and you want to buy them in moderation. For example, instead of running your washer on high heat whenever you don't need it, try to set your washing machine to run on lower heat settings when you know that you won't be using it for a while. Energy-efficient appliances also help your overall home energy efficiency, which can help you qualify for rebates from the government. Even a small reduction in energy consumption can make a big difference to your monthly electricity bill, which is one of the easiest ways to help save the environment.


Take advantage of window treatments to reduce your home's energy consumption. You can make your home appear larger by adjusting the type of blinds, curtains, or window coverings you use. Your windows are often the largest energy consumers in a house, so taking advantage of treatments like blinds, shutters, or window shades can really help you save on your monthly electricity bills. This is one of the easiest ways to learn how to reduce carbon emissions at home, because covering all the windows and doors in your house with products that don't trap heat or cool air means that you are using far fewer energy resources to run your home.