Remodel for a Greener Home

The latest eye-catching tagline in the real estate market is “Green”. Today’s younger home buyers are looking for homes that will save money on monthly expenses while helping out the environment. If you plan on doing a remodel, there is no reason why you shouldn’t include some green features while you’re at it. Whether you plan on staying in the home you’re remodeling or just fixing and flipping, here are some tips that will give you the inspiration you need to create a green home.

Geothermal Heating

Geothermal heating is an incredible way to generate heat and energy for your home without increasing your gas and electric bill. By digging a very small and narrow hole into the ground on your property, a geothermal system can heat your entire home either through coils in the walls and floors or by generating electricity. Because geothermal technology isn’t commonly used in the real estate world, you can really wow a potential buyer with this creative and enticing addition to your home.

Solar Panels

Solar technology is nothing new, however, the cost of installing solar panels has come down in recent years. Solar panels are a great way to decrease your monthly energy bill. If you plan on selling in the near future, younger potential buyers will jump at the chance to purchase your home over one that doesn’t have solar panels. In the Southwestern part of the country, homeowners receive a great deal of sunlight throughout the year, meaning solar panel systems have plenty of time to soak up energy-providing sunlight. California solar panel financing is readily available due to its popularity, so your budget should no longer prevent you from investing in this green technology.

Lighting

A great way to reduce your energy costs is to let in as much natural lighting as possible. Unfortunately, some states get a lot more sunshine than others. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t go green with your source of lighting. If you get plenty of natural light where you live, consider putting a skylight in your home. If that’s too expensive of an addition, install some reflective lighting tubes that will carry natural light from outside in. Are you living in a state that has longer, darker winters? Replace all of your bulbs with energy-saving LED bulbs that require less energy and last significantly longer.

Reclaimed Materials

Planning on ripping out that old flooring and replacing it? Don’t spend hundreds of dollars on new flooring from Home Depot; check locally for recycled wood businesses. There are a handful of small businesses that will go into old homes or business and reclaim building materials for re-use and recycling. If you lack the local resources to use reclaimed materials, consider bamboo flooring. Bamboo grows incredibly fast and doesn’t require pesticides—you also won’t be destroying any furry critter’s habitat by purchasing it.

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Water Conserving Toilet

If your toilet is an older model, you’re likely wasting water with every flush; even newer toilets still use a significant amount of water if they aren’t WaterSense certified. WaterSense is an EPA certification given to toilets that consume a minimal amount of water. Typically these toilets will only use 1.2 to 1.3 gallons per flush. Many WaterSense-certified latrines offer a two-button system to conserve even further. Even if you don’t plan on leaving your home for quite some time, installing one of these toilets can save you hundreds of dollars on your water bills every year.

Smart Plugs

Smart plugs are a fun and fantastic way to save money on your energy bill. They can be controlled with an app on your phone or your voice with the help of a smart home assistant like the Amazon Echo. Set automatic timers to the smart plug in your kitchen so that the coffee pot is only turned on
and consuming electricity when it’s brewing. Go a step further and install energy-monitoring smart plugs so you can keep those high energy consumption electronics in check.

Use these helpful tips and you will be on your way to having a smarter greener home in no time!