Thinking Green with Home Remodeling

When considering a remodel, it’s the perfect time to consider some of your “green” options. While green technology is nothing more than a buzz word to some people, making your home more energy efficient carries with it some real benefits:
•    Save on Energy Costs
•    Increase Your Home’s Value
•    Help the Environment
Many green technology upgrades pay for themselves over time with your savings in energy costs.
Audit Your Energy Use
The first thing you want to do when remodeling for energy efficiency is perform an energy audit. This will tell you exactly where your energy is going and give you a good starting point for increasing energy efficiency.
There are several free software programs available that allow you to perform a comprehensive energy audit. Many professional remodelers are also equipped to perform energy audits.
Identify Energy Hogs
While the energy audit will tell you where your energy is going, it won’t necessarily tell you why. Let’s say you have a brand-new, energy-efficient HVAC system; however, it’s still consuming much more energy than it should. Several other factors could be causing your HVAC system to work harder than it should, such as: air leakage from your house, poor insulation, low-efficiency windows. Be sure you examine not only what is consuming copious energy, but why it is doing so. Don’t be afraid to consult an expert – he or she will probably save you more money with their expertise and knowledge than you’ll spend hiring one.
Research Alternatives
Once you know what your targets are, you can start researching alternatives – either high-efficiency models or entirely different, energy-efficient products to accomplish the same task. Green technology has advanced at a startling rate over the past several years; you’ll be surprised at just what is out there.
Quick Tips
1.    Air leakage is one of the major causes of low HVAC efficiency. A professionally performed house sealing can cut air leakage significantly.
2.    Old appliances can consume ridiculous amounts of energy. If you have any appliances, such as a fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, etc. a very good way to increase your home’s energy efficiency is to replace these old appliances with new energy-efficient ones. Energy-efficient appliances often pay for themselves in energy savings over just a few years.
3.    Research any government subsidies available in your area, such as St. Louis remodeling, for improving your home’s energy efficiency. There are many government programs available that offer financing, discounts, tax cuts, and many other benefits for performing certain green technology upgrades.