4 Green Remodel Ideas that Add Value to Your Client’s Home
As we learn more about green living and how our day-to-day lives in our homes impact our world, green remodeling projects are growing in popularity. As a builder, you know just how important it is to grow with the changes in your industry, embracing how the current zeitgeist influences your work.
Because of this, more builders and architects are diving headfirst into the world of green remodel projects. Not only are they providing their clients with aesthetically pleasing changes for their homes, they are also helping to improve the overall efficiency and performance of their homes at the same time. Here are a few of the most popular green value ideas that also increase the value of your client’s home.
Swap Carpet or Hardwood for Bamboo or Reclaimed Wood
The vast majority of conventional carpeting releases harmful VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. These carbon-based chemicals easily absorb into the air when they reach room temperature and have been found to have a negative impact on indoor air quality. Hardwoods, while a little less harmful to health, can have a devastating impact on our forests.
Instead, provide your clients with the option of installing bamboo or reclaimed wood flooring. These materials are healthier for the inhabitants of the home, and bamboo can be harvested responsibly while reclaimed wood is recycled from previously harvested wood.
Install Energy Efficient Appliances in the Bathroom
In a home, the bathroom is one of the rooms that consumes the most resources. From running water in the sink, toilet, and shower to the paper products used for personal care, this room can easily become a center for over consumption of the earth’s resources. A green remodel of a bathroom would include all Energy Star-rated appliances and could even go as far as installing a solar power water heater outside.
Additionally, your clients can embrace smaller habits including watching their water consumption, investing in recycled paper products, and recycling water as grey water if legal where they live.
Whenever Possible, Opt for Recycled Materials
The options for using recycled materials in the home are practically endless. Tiles produced from recycled materials can easily be obtained for use in kitchen and bathroom remodels. More recently, green alternatives for drywall have found their way to popularity, including materials created from recycled consumer waste like milk cartons.
Make Small Improvements for a Big Difference
What some homeowners may not realize is that a huge home remodel isn’t necessary to make a big difference in how much energy they consume in their homes. Many homes need a least a little weatherizing, and without it, homeowners may be wasting energy without noticing. Encourage your clients to take the time to tackle the small projects, including adding weatherstripping and caulking to rid their home of drafts and making sure their heating and cooling unit is receiving the seasonal maintenance it needs to perform efficiently.
About the Author
Mary Sauer lives in the Midwest with her husband and two young daughters. She enjoys writing professionally for Modernize.com with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big eco-friendly home projects with confidence.
About Modernize
At Modernize, our hope is to see more homeowners embrace environmentally responsible living in their home. As a builder or an architect, widening your skill set to include green remodeling projects will not only give you an active role in the renewal of our planet, but it will bring more business to your door by making your services more attractive to green homeowners.
