Old or existing homes can be made more energy efficient, by using the best building and design practices, and by incorporating materials that are the least harmful to the environment. Regardless of the project you undertake, think about green remodeling in a larger sense―how each change relates to the house as a whole and how each project can make the house greener.
About Green Remodeling
Remodeling an existing house is inherently greener than building a new one. Americans spend roughly $200 billion a year remodeling their homes. The scope of these projects varies from simply repainting a kitchen to gutting a house down to the studs. What all remodels have in common is that they are upgrading rather than replacing, rebuilding rather than building new. And from an energy resources point of view, remodeling a house, rather than building a brand new one with all new materials on a previously undeveloped site, is a green thing to do.
What makes a remodel green? In a nutshell, it means seeking the same objectives with a remodel as we would in new construction: energy efficiency, resource conservation, and a healthy indoor environment. You get there the same way as new construction: planning and design. Begin with a home energy audit to see where the biggest greening opportunities are, and then look for ways to roll improvements into the scope of future remodeling plans. For more information on an energy audit, click here.
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