Eco-friendly Tips to Keep in Mind when Renovating
If you’re renovating this summer, there are obviously a huge number of decisions that you need to make. In fact, it can be quite overwhelming for many people, which is why it’s such a good idea to organise a renovation when you have time off! But one thing you should keep in mind is to make eco-friendly considerations too. Not only does this help the environment, but it goes a long way in saving you money over the long term. It’s a good idea to think about the following eco-friendly tips when you’re renovating.
Have a Professional Conduct a 6 star Energy Rating
In order to actually receive a building permit, your dwelling will have to reach a minimum requirements of 6 star energy rating for the house, as far as energy efficiency goes. Working with an energy rating consultant can help you achieve this and ensure that you once built, the new part of your home uses minimal energy and actually saves you in the long run. In fact, they will advise you on many of the following points discussed in this article.
Use Recycled Materials
Pre-owned and recycled materials can be available at a quarter of the price of new building materials. This can include anything from reclaimed wood, cabinets, flooring and tiles if applicable. Obviously, you may not be able to find the right kind of materials in a condition that you expect. But it’s always worth seeing what’s available as often you’d be surprised about the quality of some preowned materials out there.
Use low VOC Paints
Being biodegradable and water-based, low VOC paints are the way to go whether for renovations and for general touch-ups around the house too. Not only do they pose less of a risk to you and your family due to their lack of toxic material, but they do not pollute the environment or the interior of your home like other more conventional options. Most quality painters will follow environmental awareness & procedures for painting and will recommend these products, but it’s nevertheless worth mentioning to ensure that you are going with an organic paint.
Select Your Windows Carefully
When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, windows are a big consideration given that a great deal of heat can either come into or flow out of the house through them. Investing in double pained or double glazed windows ensures that heat stays where it belongs. In the summer, the heat will have a much harder time getting into your home, meaning less is spent on air conditioning. In the winter, it helps to retain the heat and saves you on heating bills.
Salvage Parts from the Existing Dwelling
Generally when you’re renovating, the work will involve demolishing or deconstructing part of your house. Just keep in mind that if you’re tearing down walls and pulling up the walls, there’s likely a lot of valuable material that can be salvaged. We mentioned how recycled materials are a good option instead of buying new; in some cases you may be able to reuse the materials from your own home and if not you can sell them on to someone else.
Apart from these, always make sure to use energy efficient building materials for your renovation or new building work. Also, there are a number of different things you can do to ensure your new renovated dwelling is as energy efficient as possible and it almost always comes down to proper planning and organisation. It’s imperative that you speak to an expert and if you're looking for a responsible painter that always works in the best interests of the environment, speak to the team at Premier Painting in Sydney today.
