5 Tips for a Greener Remodel

Here are our top tips to consider if you want to go green during your remodeling or renovation project:

Lighting

Install lighting fixtures that use less power with Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs) or Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), rather than incandescent light bulbs.

Flooring

Look at renewable flooring such as bamboo or cork, or use reclaimed wood flooring for an authentic, warm look. Consider stained or polished concrete that creates a durable hard surface that’s easy to clean and comprised of environmentally-friendly materials like sand and rock.

Add Insulation

Any remodeling project that requires tearing down walls, raising a ceiling, or expanding or adding rooms gives you a great chance to add insulation to your home or building's envelope and control your indoor environment while using less energy. And today, you have better choices than just fiberglass insulation. Cellulose, Spray Polyurethane Foam and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are all great options for going green when it comes to making your home more energy-efficient.

Paints

Select Low- or No-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints. Paints with high VOC counts create more pollution during their production and may create unhealthy indoor air. All major paint suppliers have high-quality low– or no-VOC options.

Windows

Consider high-efficiency windows that are right for our climate: using low-emissivity (low-E) coatings, today’s high performance window lets the right spectrum of light in, but keeps cold or heat from transferring in or out. We will help you pick attractive, long-lasting windows that increase indoor comfort while reducing energy costs.