Basic Tips on Eco-Friendly Remodelling

Occasional remodels are inevitable. Every home craves a bit of sprucing up every now and then simply because the weather conditions and, in all honesty, time itself tend to compromise its structural integrity. Whenever an opportunity for remodelling arises, you get a chance to turn your house into a “greener” environment, and here are some basic tips on eco-friendly remodelling that can turn your home into an energy saving powerhouse.

1. Always go for reused and recycled

Materials are not becoming that scarce as the very methods of producing them present an environmental problem. However, since so many houses are getting refurbished and demolished every day, environmentally conscious companies and establishments have utilized the raw, recycled material to create a whole new set of goods that can be purchased and used on your own house. These are the reused materials such as brick, wood, glass, etc. By purchasing these sorts of materials at the noticeably lower price (when compared to the same material that is coming fresh off the factory floor), you are not only saving money but improving the environment, too.

2. Have your “grids” checked and repaired

There are two main “grids” every house has – the electrical grid, and the plumbing grid. Each of these have to be in mint condition so your household can function properly and be at the top of its energy-saving game. Every single miniature problem can lead to a cascade of household catastrophes that will waste the energy and burn through your pocket. Have your hot water plumbing system updated or checked, and see to it that all of your pipes are well insulated during the renovation project. After all, if your walls have already been torn down and the “pulsating grids” behind it are already exposed, you might as well go on and check.  It’s like killing two flies with one blow. 

3. The VOC factor

Every house remodel, be it eco-friendly or not, will require you to repaint something in the end. It is practically a rule of thumb. Still, most of traditional paints on the market today contain VOCs – volatile organic compounds – that have tendency to release harmful molecules into the air long after the paint has dried. This can cause or create chronic health problems. If you want to breathe easily and have nights full of rest, you should definitely look for low-VOC or VOC-free paint. It has become fairly easy to find the buckets of these paint, so it shouldn’t be that complicated of a job, yet it is one of the pillars of modern eco-friendly remodelling.

4. Opt for natural insulation

If you are redoing the insulation in your walls, you can go with the latest eco-friendly insulation foam, which is easy to apply and efficient in terms of energy and time saving. On the other hand, you have an option these days to think about “natural” or “organic” insulation material such as sheep’s wool or cellulose, hemp and straw, but even though these are eco-friendly and efficient, they can be bona fide pest magnets. Aerogel, the “frozen silica smoke”, is an extremely popular futuristic option for this very reason.