Top Green Home Restoration Tips
Home restoration can be resource intensive. Whether your home has been damaged by weather or you are just aiming to undertake a renovation improvement project, doing the project in a sustainable way can be an ideal way to restore parts of your home efficiently and without spending a ton of money. You will need to assess your space carefully and may need to get creative with the approach to the restoration, but there are a few helpful tips to help you make a more sustainable home restoration project.
Re-purposed Materials
Salvaging and re-purposing building materials is a cost effective and efficient way to begin a restoration project. Old materials are often overlooked for their potential to be reused as effective building materials in renovations. You will need to assess the quality and condition of materials like brick, stone, glass, and wood, but these materials often have a long lifespan and can be re-purposed at low cost. Salvaged materials can also preserve the character of homes and can often be acquired for a very low price from sellers or recycling centers in comparison to new retail materials.
Efficient Insulation
Making your home more energy efficient is a great way to make your home more environmentally friendly and sustainable. Insulation is what keeps your home retaining heat and cold. During a renovation, keep in mind the potential for more efficient home energy retention with green insulation. The effectiveness of a particular variety of insulation will depend on the specific climate of the area. Recycled newspaper cellulose, formaldehyde-free fiberglass, and polyurethane foam spray are just some of the varieties of more eco-friendly insulation materials. Undertaking a proper restoration involves addressing the energy efficiency of your home. Start with the insulation and weatherstrip and seal windows and doors.
Strategic Landscaping
You may not have realized that you can improve your home’s sustainability through landscaping. An eco-friendly approach to landscaping around your house can be an effective way to regulate temperature and water consumption. Effectively using plants and trees can help insulate the yard and house, as well as keep maintenance and water costs lower. Using native plants can be a great way to make the landscaping sustainable. Plant trees and other plants in strategic locations. Smaller, leafy trees planted on the south side will offer shade during the summer and let the sun warm the house in the winter. Larger trees planted on the north and west sides can help deflect wind and will offer nice shade. Consider these landscaping details when undertaking a restoration project to help make your home more environmentally sustainable and energy efficient.