Taperman articles

Lately, there has been a huge move towards green design whenever homeowners are considering a remodeling project. Not only does incorporating green design concepts in your home save you money, but they are also friendly to the environment. Though more homeowners are making a move towards green design, the concept can still be a bit overwhelming for those who are new to the arena. However, it should comfort you to know that even making small efforts to include green design in your remodeling projects is beneficial to the environment. The key to designing a greener home is to take small steps.

Green design is made so much simpler these days due to the fact that there are numerous green products on the market. Even something as simple as replacing the showerheads in your bathrooms with water saving ones is an effort towards creating a greener living space. It is important to make an effort to include green design in any remodeling project that you undertake in order to reduce waste and promote a cleaner environment.

One of the easiest ways to add green design to your modeling project is to choose your appliances carefully. Take time to locate such products as low flow toilets, Energy Star appliances, water saving showerheads, and high-efficiency water heaters.

Many times, one of the main ways people choose to remodel a living space is by painting. There are so many environmentally friendly paints available now that you should have no problem integrating green design into this portion of your project. The key to selecting paint is to choose those that contain low or zero volatile organic compounds, also known as ‘VOC’. Also, make sure that any finishes, sealants, caulks, and adhesives you use contain relatively little VOCs.

Another way that you can integrate green design into your remodeling projects is by adding efficient lighting. Of course, natural lighting is best, but you should supplement it by using compact fluorescent bulbs, LEDs and other energy efficient bulbs. Also, when choosing lighting fixtures, look for those that include natural, recycled, or reused materials.

Updating flooring is also a popular remodeling project that can make use of green design. Just make sure that you try to reuse any existing flooring or subflooring. Refinished wood floors look great, but be careful to use green products for the job. And if you are replacing the floors entirely, select natural materials such as stone, wood, or cork.

When you really think about it, there are hundreds of small ways to make green design a part of your remodeling project. Most are simple and relatively inexpensive, so there is no excuse for not making green design a part of the over design plan.

Author