Since the start of the pandemic, two-thirds of Americans have had an ‘eco wake-up call.’ According to new data from Roofing4US, with the spike of pandemic-driven projects, American have become more concerned with eco-friendly home renovations than ever before.
“As people become more passionate about a greener planet, we’re seeing rising trends in sustainable home renovations and eco-design,” said Johnpaul Manning, managing director at Roofing4US. “There’s a mixture of renovations here – some, like eco-walls, are more design focused but do have numerous green benefits – like improving air quality and acting as insulation. Others – like underfloor or renewable heating methods – look to making our homes more energy efficient.”
And so, here are five strategies Manning recommends for making your home renovations greener.
1. Invest in Insulation.
Insulation is one of the most important factors when it comes to a home’s energy efficiency. If your client’s insulation isn’t good enough, they’ll spend more money to warm the space. If the home has cavity walls, have your client ask their energy supplier about reduced rates for cavity wall insulation. Otherwise, look at retrofitting walls with insulated panels. Insulation may be costly at first, but the money saved on reduced heating costs will more than pay for itself.
2. Go Solar.
Solar panels are the discreet little energy savers on buildings. They don’t take up much space and need next to no maintenance once installed. This gives them a serious edge on other renewable home renovations. Plus, depending on where you live, a lot of sunshine feeds into a lot of savings in eco-friendly homes.
3. Explore Energy-Efficient Lighting.
While solar panels and insulation often come with some hefty price tags, a much cheaper and exceedingly effective way to sustain(ably build), is to install energy-efficient lighting in your client’s home. Even something as simple as moving switch locations can encourage occupants to turn off the lights more often. For example, having switch at the top and bottom of stairs will promote way more energy savings than just one or the other.
4. Buy a New Boiler.
It isn’t cheap, but it’s incredibly effective, and really worth considering if you want to maximize energy efficiency on a project. Like insulation, or solar panels, the wall of an upfront cost gets whittled down over time with savings. But, if a new boiler isn’t in your funds, at least have the old boiler serviced regularly to avoid truly costly breakdowns.
5. Save Water.
Water-saving taps are a handy way to save on water usage in the kitchen and bathroom in eco-friendly homes. Investing in a water-saving showerhead is a great way to cut back on water consumption, helping the planet and helping your client’s bank balance!
Another version of this article was previously published in KBB Magazine.