4 Ways To Make Your Remodel More Eco-Friendly

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When remodeling your home, there are many important priorities to take into consideration. You need to choose the right design, contractor, materials and color scheme so that you’re happy with the result for years to come. But nowadays, more homeowners are also prioritizing an environmentally friendly remodel. This doesn’t mean only designing your home according to sustainable principles, but also ensuring you reduce the overall impact of your remodel on the environment. While it requires careful planning and forethought, it is possible to make your remodel more eco-friendly, both during construction and during the years to come.

Choose An Experienced Contractor

Completing a sustainable design remodel in an environmentally friendly way requires the experience and guidance of a professional, licensed contractor. A design build contractor is the ideal choice to oversee your project from planning to finish, often featuring eco-friendly construction as a specialty. These contractors use careful waste management and recycling methods along with air filtering machinery during construction to minimize the impact of your remodel on the surrounding environment. They also have insider knowledge about eco-friendly construction and can advise you about environmentally sustainable materials, products, fittings, and appliances to be added to your space.

Plan For Sustainability in Design

Most remodels start with design, and that’s where your approach to sustainability should start as well. Work with your home designer or design build contractor to plan an environmentally friendly design from the start, with consideration for insulation, daylighting, recycling, and water. Additional considerations include energy conservation, appliances, and resource management. Consulting your design build contractor, and starting with sustainable, green design, provides an environmentally friendly remodel that you’ll love.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”2725″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Choose Materials Carefully

The materials you choose are what make your remodel, so choosing eco-friendly materials makes a more environmentally friendly remodel. Choose local materials for a smaller carbon footprint, or recycled or composite materials to preserve natural resources. There are flooring, paint, and building product options that are low or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) to prevent these potentially toxic chemicals from leaching into your home or the surrounding environment. Also, choosing solar energy alternatives such as panels, traditional skylights, or tube skylights will help to reduce your reliance on traditional energy sources. Your experienced design build contractor can help recommend building products and fittings that are environmentally friendly, safe for your family, and ideal for your design.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Deconstruct, Reuse, Recycle

While demolition is destructive, deconstruction can actually be productive. Deconstruction is the careful dismantling and removal of materials from your site that you no longer need. This careful process retains these materials for reuse and recycling, whether in your own project or elsewhere. If materials from your home are still in good condition, they can be re-used or repurposed in your space, or donated. You can even get creative and use old materials for redecorating, or reuse materials to create new furniture in your space. Your design build contractor can also help advise you where you can reuse materials, or use recycled items or materials for your remodel construction, always balancing quality and safety with sustainability.

With sustainable and environmentally friendly living becoming more essential, eco-friendly design and remodel construction has never been more important. Before you get started on your next project, talk to a local design build contractor about how to make your remodel more environmentally friendly.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]