Eco-friendly construction and remodeling practices are becoming more and more important to people all across the country. With advanced materials, innovative techniques, and revolutionary technologies, creating a home that has a smaller impact on the environment is easier than ever. With these eco-friendly design tips, you can create a home that uses fewer resources, both in the short and long term. You’ll be able to consume less water and electricity, and build your home with materials that leave a tiny mark on the environment.

Eco-Friendly Design Tips for Your Construction and Home Remodeling

Talk with Your Contractor about Eco-Friendly Design Tips

The first step you should take is to talk with your contractor about eco-friendly design practices. Make it perfectly clear to your contractor that you are putting eco-friendly steps high on the priority list, and ask them if they have any ideas that will help you meet your goals. This isn’t so much to interrogate them on eco-friendly practices, but to simply establish a clear agenda for the project.

Look for ENERGY STAR Appliances

The ENERGY STAR program is a comprehensive effort to reduce energy use in homes and businesses. Created by the EPA, ENERGY STAR certifications are independently awarded to various appliances, including dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, lighting fixtures, and more. If you want to make your home more eco-friendly, look for the light-blue ENERGY STAR logo.

Shade the House with Trees

You can’t talk green without mentioning trees. Obviously, having large, shady trees is more difficult than installing energy-efficient appliances, but nonetheless you should consider planting trees that will shade your home, reducing the cost of air conditioning in the summer. The best location for trees is usually the southwest of the home, where they will provide the most shade during warm afternoons.

Consider Eco-Friendly Flooring

When you are considering flooring for your remodeled kitchen or bathroom, you will have plenty of eco-friendly options. One of the best eco-friendly design tips is to use products like bamboo, which is a fast-growing, durable flooring material, or laminate, a non-toxic and bio-degradable flooring option. Cork is also great material for eco-friendly design, and reclaimed wood from old barns, homes, and buildings will allow you to take wood from unwanted structures, not the forests and wild habitats of the planet.

Use Recycled Materials When Possible

Ask your contractor about the availability of recycled materials, from composite board to countertops to metals. You can find practically anything made from recycled materials, and your contractor should be able to provide reliable eco-friendly design tips. If you and your contractor do enough searching, you can find recycled doors, floors, windows, and everything else you can imagine.

Shop for (Soon to Be) Discarded Materials

While the construction industry as a whole has made major strides to reduce waste, there are still perfectly good scraps that get tossed into the landfill. Before the material gets wasted, you may be able to purchase it at a significantly discounted price. Take granite countertops, for example. When a company uses granite tops for a large-scale project, there are often smaller scraps left over. These scraps could be perfect for your small kitchen or bathroom remodeling.

Get Energy-Efficient Windows

Replacing your old, drafty windows with energy-efficient products, including ENERGY STAR windows, will help reduce the energy costs in both the winter and the summer. This practice not only reduces your home’s carbon footprint, but ENERGY STAR says it also can reduce your energy bills by an average of 12%.

Have Low-Energy Lighting Installed During Remodeling

Purchasing efficient light bulbs will help you reduce the amount of energy you use in your home. You can purchase LED light bulbs and other materials that will help you keep your home well-lit while not using a massive amount of electricity.

Look for Water-Conserving Fixtures

Water conservation, especially in drought-stricken areas like the southwest, is a major concern for governments, organization, and homeowners. Whether you live in dry areas like California or Arizona or simply want to reduce your water use and bills, H2O-conserving fixtures and appliances are a wise decision. Low-flow faucets, toilets, showerheads, and appliances will all reduce the amount of water you consume in your home.

Create Your Eco-Friendly Home with JK Cabinets & Design

Give us a call and let us create the eco-friendly home you’ve always wanted. With our experience, knowledge, and eco-friendly design tips, we can help you create a home that uses less energy and resources.

You might not be able to save the world by yourself, but you can do a small part toward a better future with an eco-friendly home design.