These days, it’s not only easy and hip to be green, green renovations just plain make sense. Rising energy costs, concerns around human health, and the knowledge that our planet’s resources are waning are all driving awareness and inspiring smart solutions, products, and services on the home for green remodeling projects.
- Energy conservation: The average home pits heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems against an overall structure with built-in inefficiencies, so such modifications as energy-efficient appliances, thermostats, and home envelope adjustments can trim household needs and conserve precious resources.
- Indoor air quality: Everything from outdoor pollutants to the off-gassing of floor coverings impacts the purity of your indoor environment. A green approach to remodeling seeks to remove such impacts through better ventilation systems and the use of nontoxic building materials.
- Reduced material waste and resource conservation: Construction waste is a big deal with even the smallest remodel, so anything that can be done to lessen its impact and amp up opportunities to recycle and reuse is welcome. Building with engineered lumber, incorporating local materials, and working with a recycling company for waste removal are among the suggestions from the NARI Green Program.
- Environmentally safe products: Several remodeling products and practices have the potential to harm the environment, whether through air pollution or direct disturbance of the natural landscape surrounding a home. With a green approach, care is taken to minimize or eliminate elements that could cause such harm to either the environment or occupants during and after the project.