Have you ever considered having a green home? You don’t necessarily need to buy a new home because a good green home renovation can easily make it possible for your family to have one.
No matter how old your house is, you can change it into a modern, green building and reduce your operating costs and stop polluting the environment.
Efficient energy consumption is the most important aspect of living in a green building. You might spend a bit more when renovating your home with a focus on green aspects. But you’ll definitely get back that money gradually.
1. Set aside a realistic budget for green home renovation
The most important factor in every project is the budget. Many people start renovating their homes without making a reasonable budget for their projects.
This problem will be exacerbated when it comes to green home renovation. Remember that green projects are probably more expensive than the regular renovation procedures.
So it’s essential that you predict every expense for your project to avoid any cash problems. This might be even more critical during crises like the one we’re facing in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
2. Build a strategy for your home renovation project
Apart from the budget, you need a plan to stick to. Without a certain strategy, you will face a lot of problems.
There are many details in home renovation projects that you need to consider before starting your tasks. Try to write every detail and review them again and again. You can also get advice from other people who have recently renovated their homes.
A timetable is also good as it can help you to measure your project progress and know if you can finish the job before its deadline.
3. Simulate your building’s energy consumption
Fortunately, there is software for everything out there, and building energy is not an exception. It’s good to ask experts to simulate your building to know its thermal performance.
Then, you can estimate the amount of energy-saving you can make by implementing your green home renovation plan.
For instance, 4800 Yonge Condo suggests Design builder, Carrier, and Revit MEP as some good examples of building energy simulation tools. These tools will significantly help you to be aware of how your building will perform after renovation.
4. Use local materials to reduce the cost
Choosing eco-friendly materials is great for green home renovation. But remember that if it has to be transported across the country, you can’t truly call it “green”.
Buying local materials reduces transportation costs as well as air pollution. In fact, locally produced materials require far less fuel to get to your home.
Apart from the cost, local employment for workers and experts are some advantages of using local materials.
5. Consult with experts in your vicinity
Remember that you don’t have to do every task yourself. Many tasks require skills and tools that you probably can’t afford personally.
So it’s recommended to get advice from local experts for every single change. For example, R&Z plumbing offers affordable emergency plumbing services in Canada.
You’d better assign the task to experts in your vicinity to make sure you’ll get the best results.
6. Make the most out of solar energy
Try to choose a design with the ability to use maximum solar light. This will make your home significantly brighter, with less electric power consumption.
Moreover, you can consider using photovoltaic panels on your roof to generate green power and reduce your bills.
Source: unsplash.com
Of course, the initial cost for solar cells is relatively high, but it will definitely help you to reduce your utility expenses.
7. Switch to eco-friendly light bulbs
You will be able to save a huge amount of money each year by using eco-friendly light bulbs that have gained the ENERGY STAR.
These light bulbs like CFLs and LEDs have many advantages such as:
- They usually consume about 20%-80% less energy compared to traditional ones.
- They can last 3-20 times longer than traditional light bulbs.
You can be sure that your investment will return soon, and more importantly, you’re helping the environment to be cleaner.
Takeaway
Converting an old house into a green building might be a challenging project. However, this challenge is worth it. With a good plan and wise budgeting, you can avoid any problems in the project and reach a green design that will last for decades.
