Planning to Remodel or Renovate Your Home? Begin the Process by Consulting With Your Local Remodeling Contractors!
When individuals or families have been living in the same house for a while or have recently purchased an older home, they may begin to think about remodeling one or more rooms. While some homeowners may be planning to do this to age-in-place, others may want to create more space for a growing family. Homeowners may also want to refinish their basement for an entertainment room, a home office, or a studio apartment. Other popular projects often include creating outdoor living areas complete with revitalized landscaping.
Design Build and Sustainable Home Remodeling
The option to design and build a new home is popular with many prospective buyers. One of the many reasons for this is because these individuals want to be the first residents in an energy-efficient home. Since older homes may have electrical and plumbing issues or require extensive renovations, new home constructions have a great appeal, particularly for first-time buyers.
According to the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), green building practices and elements are employed by most home builders. This applies to select remodeling companies as well. Whether someone is planning to have a new home built or renovate an existing one, there are several aspects to consider.
What Makes a Home Sustainable
In order to have a sustainable home, the NAHB outlines several criteria. This includes the type of building materials that are used as well as specific building techniques. Consideration also needs to be given in terms of how the residence will impact the environment. The conservation of natural resources, for example, is vital to sustainable building.
There are a variety of energy-efficient improvements that can be made to an existing home by remodeling contractors. In addition to making sure that the home is well-insulated and has high-performance windows, the NAHB also lists energy-efficient appliances, HVAC systems, and lighting.
Conserving water and otherwise reducing usage are integral to maintaining a sustainable home. The following methods have been recommended by the NAHB:
- Water-efficient appliances
- Water-conserving fixtures
- Water filtration systems
- Water-efficient landscaping
- Low-maintenance landscaping
Another way to remodel or construct a sustainable home, according to the NAHB, is to use resource conservation techniques. This includes utilizing these and other materials:
- High-performance engineered wood
- Wood alternatives
- Allergen-free materials
- Recycled materials
- Sustainably-harvested lumber
Other sustainable building practices pertain to the actual site design. This includes keeping disruption to a minimum and focusing on preserving open space whenever possible.
It’s also important to consider a home’s indoor air quality. The NAHB recommends using effective HVAC equipment, finishes that are free of formaldehyde, and products that possess low volatile organic compounds.
Contact Local Remodeling Companies
If you’re planning to have your home remodeled, one of the first steps is to consult with remodeling contractors. Whether you already have a solid plan or are looking for ideas, your remodeling contractors will be able to provide you with a variety of options. Since there’s an excellent chance your home improvement goals include energy-efficient features, your remodeling contractors will be able to provide you with recommendations.