Eco-Friendly Home Remodels In South East PA, From A Trusted Family-Run General Contracting Service
Ever think about what impact your home is having on the Earth? Want to do something about it? Our general contracting team here at Tri-County General Contracting has the industry training and technical know-how to bring Delaware, Chester and Montgomery County homeowners increased energy efficiency, healthier living environments and lower utility bills with eco-friendly home remodeling. Let Tri-County answer your questions about eco-friendly home remodeling, and fill you in about the benefits of designing a house’s renovation with the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines in mind.
From adding insulation to walls and roofs to replacing old, leaky windows with multiple-pane Low-E coated film; from recycling that old, bulky refrigerator for a new Energy Star-Certified low-voltage unit to incorporating reused and recycled building materials in your next home revamp, eco-friendly home remodeling is sure to be kind to your wallet and the planet, too. In fact, according to USGBC data, the typical U.S. household spends about $2,150 every year on residential energy bills. Homes with LEED certification from the Council can save 30 to 60 percent on those bills, and at the same time provide a healthier and more functional living environment for families.
Easy, Low-Cost Green Remodel Project Ideas, Completed Quickly And Cost-Effectively By Tri-County
When it comes to renovating a house along green building guidelines, several simple projects are known to be small investments with big energy and cost-saving potential in the long run. Some are more obvious than others, but all work toward the same end – building a cleaner, greener and cozier home.
- Use Recycled Building Material – Look for materials that contain post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content. Also, insist that materials you buy for a remodel are sustainably sourced, like lumber that’s certified sustainably harvested by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Buying refurbished and used appliances at a fraction of retail prices at stores like Habitat for Humanity’s non-profit ReStores is always a good idea. These shops sell gently used furniture, appliances, home accessories, building materials and more to the public. Several U.S. counter manufacturers offer product lines that rely on recycled paper, glass and wood, and green flooring options include decorative cork tiles and durable, elegant bamboo that is harvested every nine years, instead of every 90 years like oak trees.
- Don’t Underestimate The Importance Of A House’s Thermal Envelope – When a renovation doesn’t involve a complete tear-down, contractors can tighten things up by plugging holes, caulking seams, patching or replacing roofing and siding and adding weather-stripping around windows and doors. Also, replacing or adding insulating to walls, attics and floors can help keep heat inside and cold outside, and vice-versa. Perhaps the most important green renovation of all, though, is obvious: switching out older single-pane windows with energy-efficient modern double or triple-pane styles.
- Invest Energy-Saving Appliances That Pay For Themselves – Swapping out old appliances with newer models that qualify for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s EnergyStar label will save a bundle on energy bills. Some modern, low-power models can be 20 to 30 percent more energy efficient than their standard model equivalents.
More Eco-Friendly Home Remodeling Tips:
- Use No-VOC Or Low-VOC Paints – Low-Volatile Organic Compound paints are earth-friendlier and healthier for you and your family’s living space. Benjamin Moore, a nationally renown paint brand, offers their Natura No-VOC Paint that’s self-priming, practically odorless, 100% acrylic and splatter resistant.
- Go Solar – Many homeowners are starting to consider installing solar energy systems as part of their remodels, lowering utility bills and providing energy security in times of outages.
- Think About Water – A house’s toilets account for roughly 30 percent of total residential water usage on average. Upgrading from a standard 1.6 gallon per flush model to an EPA-certified WaterSense model that uses 1.28 gallons per flush will save around 13,000 gallons of water and about $90 in water bill savings per year.
For More Information About Green Home Renovation, Check Out The USGBC’s “Green Homes 101” Fact Sheet
Or Give Tri-County General Contracting A Call Now At:
610-329-2880
