Green home improvement is catching on as people are becoming more environmentally conscientious and starting to replace old home systems and products with newer, environmentally friendly and sustainable products.
One of the most important things to maintain the value of your home is to perform at least the minimum necessary improvements and home maintenance throughout the years. Many people spend tons of money doing improvements that may not help raise the value of their home significantly due to poor material choices, or due to investing in the wrong types of home improvements that may not help raise the value of their home.
Important points to keep in mind
Unless you are going to live in the home for a long time and enjoy a too personal home improvement that appeals to your taste only, it is best not to go that route. Many people devalue their homes by adding improvements that reflect their personal taste and are not neutral enough to appeal to a larger pool of prospecting home buyers.
As we get used to the idea of a greener society, more green products are being developed and presented to the public. The building industry is making a lot of effort in that direction by presenting products, and building techniques that are eco friendly and sustainable for existing building retrofits and new construction.
However, many homeowners are slowly improving their older homes, replacing systems and appliances with more environmentally friendly, and energy saving products. If your budget is limited, but you want to join the green movement slowly, start by updating your appliances and lighting to energy efficient ones - this is a good place to start. Little by little, grow your budget so that you can do other eco friendly improvements - flooring, roofing, and windows.
Each decision you make as an individual and homeowner affects the environment, from not recycling the plastic jug, buying the paper towels that are made from trees, to other major remodeling projects or home improvements. A home can stand for many generations and for hundreds of years; by improving your home with green products and techniques you are creating a better environment for other generations to come that will live in your community.
Types of Green Home Improvements
Whether you start big or small in relation to green home improvements, is not the issue, the important issue is to start improving your home with green alternatives. When hiring building professionals to work on a project in your home, look for people that are trained in sustainability or that have acquired LEED certification in the industry. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Professionals that know about green techniques know about the right products and codes required for sustainability in a home remodel project.
Types of green home improvements include the areas of roofing, window replacement, solar energy panels, radiant barrier, gutters, siding, decks, patio enclosures, and other areas of remodeling. There are roofing shingles that have a radiant barrier to protect the roof from the sun's rays. These are known as energy star cool roofs. Energy efficient windows help keep the home's heating and cooling where it belongs - inside the home, and not escaping through the windows. Forty to fifty percent of heating and cooling can be lost during the summer and winter months if a home does not have energy efficient windows. Energy efficient windows help the homeowner save money on energy bills. Energy efficient windows have a low E glass and also Argon gas fill in the insulating glass. They also reduce noise, besides saving energy. They have a lifetime warranty.
Attic insulation with radiant barrier reflective products or foam attic insulation is another area in which you can practice green home remodeling. Over time, efficient solar panels will pay for themselves, and the energy company will be paying you instead of you paying them. Building a deck from sustainable materials is also another way to improve your home the green way. Replacing siding with materials that do not absorb water and last, means that you will not have to repaint in the future. These and other green techniques can be applied throughout your entire home, despite the home's age.