Every homeowner has been there: you can’t stand that leaky faucet, messy kitchen or your hot water heater problems any longer. Some people just give in altogether and go for a complete bathroom or kitchen remodel. They’ve been planning it for a long time, and are ready to cut lose with all the improvements they’ve ever dreamed of. If you’re in that situation, lucky you! Because when you remodel your kitchen or bathroom, you also have the choice to do a green remodel, making your home more ecofriendly and safer for your family at the same time.
Is it time to remodel your kitchen or bathroom?
Kitchen and bathroom remodels come in at the top of the wish list for many homeowners. Leaky faucets, banging pipes and hot water heater problems can wear down anyone’s nerves, and sometimes homeowners use the chance to go for a complete remodel. Most people have been thinking of making changes to their kitchens and bathrooms, more than any other rooms in the house.
The National Association of Home Builders reports that a survey found bathrooms and kitchen remodels were at the top of their list of most-requested jobs. Bathrooms came in at the top spot with 78% of all jobs requested, and kitchens were second with 69% of all jobs. It’s easy to see why: these are spaces that are essential for the daily functioning of the household, but tend to get very messy. A remodel is a chance to do them over to meet your needs.
Why not do a green remodel?
Most people are not aware that a home remodel is also an opportunity to make their homes greener and more ecofriendly. It’s a good choice because green homes are not only better for the environment, they’re cleaner and healthier for the the people who live in them. Even though green design in homebuilding is catching on, people tend to think that only new homes can be green.
The truth is that every remodel is a chance to make your home greener. It is easier to build a new home according to green design than to modify an older home. But there are some basic principles of green design that can be used when remodeling.
The principles of green design
Green design follows several principles that can be applied to remodels as well as new construction. These include energy efficiency, which can be achieved through design and the use of energy-efficient appliances; using renewable, durable and non-toxic building materials and paints; ensuring clean indoor air through ventilation and efficient circulation of air; and using resources such as water efficiently.
While older homes were built with a different set of concerns in mind, they can be modified to become greener. For instance, a survey by the website Houzz found that 91% of participants were going to install energy efficient toilets as part of their bathroom renovations. You could also deal with your hot water heater problems by replacing your old water heater with an energy-efficient tankless water heater.
Leaky faucets and hot water heater problems may be an opportunity to go for that bathroom or kitchen remodel you’ve been dreaming about. Using the renovations to make your home greener is good for the environment and creates a healthier home for your family.
