With ever-rising energy costs and trends toward sustainability, many homeowners are looking for better, more cost-effective home heating options. In many instances, this improvement may be part of an overall renovation, making it a great time to accomplish all the upgrades at once with the least amount of intrusion.
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If you live in the northern areas of the country and are considering renovations to your home’s interior, winter and spring are the best times to do this. After all, during warmer months, most high-quality remodeling and construction contractors are fully committed to exterior projects. So they are more likely to be available and perhaps less expensive during the winter months. Materials can also be less expensive during slower periods.
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People are now working from their homes more than ever before. In fact, many newly built homes today are incorporating home office spaces to accommodate work-at-home situations.
In an existing home, the challenge is finding a place that is efficient, minimizes interruptions, and provides most or all the amenities of a traditional office. After all, working from the kitchen table can be very distracting and even become annoying to others in the home.
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Trends in building design and materials have evolved in recent years. Efficiency and sustainability are now at the forefront of design build trends and processes. Connectivity, intelligent home management systems, renewable energy, and renewable materials help to give homeowners pride of ownership, better control, and interactivity. They also experience the benefit of reduced utility costs that come with many of these design choices.
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Eco-friendliness, resource conservation, and sustainability are becoming more integral in every decision we make. From material selections and appliances to elements of home construction and remodeling, both contractors and homeowners are focusing on eco-friendly flooring options. Many of these options use less energy to produce or are made from recycled and renewable materials.
As the focus on sustainability is now prioritized by product designers, new materials are attractive yet more economical than conventional, non-sustainable materials. Flooring options have taken center stage in the quest for beautiful and sustainable alternatives. Many current choices are also more economical than what was offered in the past.
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Kitchens and bathrooms are the most frequently requested remodel projects. Consider remodeling to create an eco-friendly kitchen.
Over time, most homeowners who are living in their homes for an extended time will consider remodeling their kitchen. Whether for a new home design or a remodel, why not make that all-important part of the home as energy-efficient and eco-friendly as possible? After all, energy costs are not likely to come down.
New kitchen designs can offer infinite options for eco-friendliness and responsible energy management. Homeowners have a vast amount of options for all aspects of kitchen design. They can choose renewable and recyclable materials and select Energy Star® rated appliances to help lower their energy costs.
Remodeling and improving an existing kitchen can require considerable imagination. After all, you must find room for new energy-efficient appliances and extra storage. One option is to expand into an adjacent area or “bump out” to create additional space.
An experienced design build expert can help homeowners visualize the possibilities to make the kitchens more ergonomic, energy efficient, and decidedly more appealing.
To keep your kitchen remodel eco-friendly, here are a few suggestions:
Where possible, refacing existing cabinets saves money and consumes far less material and energy than building and installing new cabinets. However, if the design calls for dramatic repositioning and style changes, you may consider purchasing new doors and reusing the old cabinet frames.
While granite countertops have been hugely popular in the past, they require immense amounts of energy to extract and transport. Quartz and Corian use less energy to produce and are equally attractive. Plus, they will last a lifetime without chipping and scratching.
Reduce those electric and water bills substantially with the latest appliances and lighting. The Energy Star label assures homeowners that their energy costs will decrease. Do your research and find the best-rated appliances to keep energy use down. Installing induction cooktops and convection ovens can reduce cook times while using less energy and releasing less heat into the home.
Strategic, low-energy LED lighting with easily controlled dimmer switches can dramatically impact the appearance of a newly remodeled kitchen. LED bulbs also last much longer than traditional lightbulbs.
Replace those old sink faucets with “touch-free” systems that automatically shut off to eliminate water wastage.
A highly efficient dishwasher can help to reduce water usage substantially. In fact, it could save up to 3,870 gallons per year on average. Newer dishwashers can also reduce electric consumption substantially.
Consider an eco-friendly flooring material. The current options are attractive while reducing energy usage. Renewable and recyclable materials such as cork and bamboo are great options. Or consider renewable wooden flooring or tiles made from recycled materials.
Windows can be a primary culprit of energy loss during the heat of summer and frigid days and nights of winter. Replacing older windows with the new couple of glazed window units can generate significant energy consumption reductions. These savings can eventually pay for the replacements. At the very least, homeowners should install tight, secure weather stripping around all windows.
Many paints and stains contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that will release into the atmosphere during and after application. Newer finishes are more eco-friendly and should be requested for any new construction or remodel project.
So many products and packaging today are recyclable. Responsible homeowners can reduce the volume of material heading to the landfill substantially by recycling.
As a leading design, build and remodel company in Eastern Pennsylvania, Master’s Design Build Group helps homeowners in Bucks and Montgomery Counties achieve their goals of greater sustainability, responsibility, and reduced energy consumption in kitchens and other parts of their homes.
Whether the project is new construction or a remodel, the Master’s professionals can help homeowners visualize, then realize their dream of a beautiful, eco-friendly home.
To view some of Master’s Design Build Group’s past finished projects, visit their Gallery of past projects.
Homeowners can schedule an initial no-obligation consultation to discuss ideas and objectives by completing the brief Let’s Talk form on the Master’s Design Build Group website.
Or you may call the Master’s office to schedule your consultation at (215)-723-6162.
When it comes to remodeling, bathrooms are one of the most common projects, according to Realtor Magazine®. This fact is understandable since it is one of the most used rooms of the house. It also contains elements that are likely to wear out and become out-of-date faster.
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Is it time for a laundry remodel? When asked about their laundry room, homeowners typically offer one of three opinions. First, some may say their laundry looks fine, but the room doesn’t work well, with too little counter space and insufficient space to hang up clothes. Or the machines might be several years past their useful life.
A second group might say their laundry room functions well, but it looks dingy and is poorly lit with marked-up walls and floors.
Finally, some say that their laundry room looks horrible and adds to rather than reduces their workload.
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You likely already have an outdoor living area where you and your family may congregate, entertain, relax, and dine. Creating a natural flow between the inside and outside living areas can create a sense of unity. This allows more natural light to enter the home, while also improving passage from one location to the other.
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Homeowners usually have several alternatives to consider when looking to optimize their existing space. As situations change and room is needed to accommodate more people, changing circumstances, or other functions, growing the home’s footprint with an add-on is not the only answer. Explore these alternatives to maximize space in your home.
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