Creative Green Remodeling Ideas

There are so many creative ways to apply green home improvement ideas. For example, if you enjoy a climate like we do here in Southern California that promotes the integration of an indoor and outdoor lifestyle, consider the following creative application of an outdoor shower.

This concept, courtesy of Jeremy Levine Design, provides an enclosed open-air shower off of the indoor bathroom.  The outdoor shower offers a serene exposure to the open air while protecting your personal privacy.

The green friendly design recycles the shower water into a grey water garden outside. An aesthetic and pleasing lifestyle design that is smart for the environment as well!

photo credit: Jeremy Levine Design

The possibilities for green remodeling concepts are wide-open, but most homeowners choose to start with the basics first. Here are five of the more common green remodeling improvements that you might consider for your next remodeling project.

Five Green Home Improvements That Save You Money

• High Efficiency Heating System – Depending on where you live, heating your home can consume as much as 35% of your overall home energy bill. Today, new high-efficiency heating systems can significantly reduce your heating costs, sometimes by as much as 50%. Look for units with AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency ratings defined by the US Department of Energy) of 90 or better. And don’t forget the insulation in your home. Upgrading your heating system for energy efficiency is a waste if poor insulation simply allows the heat to escape.
• High Efficiency Air Conditioner – If you live in a warm climate, air conditioning is a must have. Surprisingly, air conditioning in the US accounts for approximately 5% of the total energy consumption and costs American homeowners $11 billion annualy. Many of the modern air conditioning systems are designed for much improved energy efficiency and can save significant costs on your monthly energy bill. Energy Star rated units are required to have SEER ratings of 13 or higher. Some of the highest energy efficient air conditioning models on the market today actually have SEER ratings of 20 and higher. Higher SEER ratings means you save more money!
• High Efficiency Replacement Windows – One of the most popular home improvement upgrades, modern energy efficient windows can reduce your home energy usage by as much as 50% year round. And today’s window upgrades will add beauty, comfort, convenience and security to your home. With this kind of energy conservation performance, upgrading the windows in your home can often pay for itself in a few short years. Look for Low-E coatings, multiple-paned windows, insulated frames and remember that proper installation is important to get good results.
• High Efficiency Insulation – One of the often overlooked opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of your home and reduce your monthly bill is home insulation. Don’t make the mistake of putting your investment in high efficiency furnaces, air conditioning systems and windows without attending to the insulation as well. Leaky windows and doors and poorly insulated attics cost you money and are good places to start. A professional can help you determine where your biggest insulation opportunities reside in your home.
• High Efficiency Appliances – your home appliances consume a big chunk of your energy usage each month. Today’s modern appliances, including dish washers, refrigerators, ovens, washing machines and dryers, can reduce energy consumption by as much as 45%. When choosing your appliances, look for the Energy Star rating to determine the level of energy efficiency.

Going green is a smart, win-win move all the way around. You not only save money on your monthly bills, you will benefit the environment and help better preserve our precious resources.

And don’t forget, many of the energy efficient green remodeling upgrades will qualify for tax credits, which make these green improvements even more compelling.

To find out more how you can benefit from green remodeling, contact Z.Z. Daily Construction today!

Make sure you do your home remodel planning first

Proper planning helps you avoid the rush. Most homeowners underestimate the number of decisions they need to make before they even get the construction underway. When you don’t give yourself sufficient time to plan up front, you’ll tend to make hasty decisions that you’ll either want to change later. Or worse, in your hurry to get moving, you’ll overlook an important consideration that can cost you much more after you’ve started to build.

A rule of thumb to remember; Anything you have to re-do a second time to get it right will always cost more than doing it right the first time.

Whether working with a designer or consulting with your contractor for ideas and advice, the variety of decisions you’ll need to work through will add up quickly. You’ll do better if you give yourself the proper time to cover the planning phase up front, and go in with a positive attitude. Enjoy the planning steps and make it fun.

Choosing appliances, materials , plumbing fixtures, electrical fixtures, cabinets, windows, skylights, flooring, paint and colors, etc., is a time consuming process and a lot of ground to cover. Having a professional designer or an experienced contractor to lean on for advice and ideas and help guide you through the maze of choices, options and costs can truly be a life saver.

When you give yourself the proper time up-front, you’ll have several advantages:

• You give yourself a better chance to take advantage of great sales and seasonal specials.
• You can talk to family and friends for more input and advice. Don’t be afraid to leverage the experience of those you trust.
• You’ll have the time to call and visit the references furnished by your contractor or designer. There’s nothing better than to see their work first hand.
• Remember, you’ll be living with your home remodel choices and decisions for many years to come.

Home remodel planning – next steps.

Once you take the first pass at your set of choices, preferences and ideas, your first round of project bids may come in over budget. This can kick off a whole new round of choices and decisions. You may need to alter designs, re-draw some plans, make some alternate materials choices, choose some different appliances, or simply defer some of the work into a later phase.

And don’t forget murphey’s law. If the unexpected ever applied to anything, it definitely applies to complex jobs like a home remodel. It’s almost a guarantee that sooner or later, something will come up that you don’t expect. Always build extra time into your final remodeling plan, and allow for the unexpected including an illness, bad weather, delayed permits, supply and materials backorders, etc.

Setup for an enjoyable home remodel

It’s unrealistic to expect you won’t encounter problems and challenges along the way. But there’s no question, you’ll preserve your sanity if you take the time to put a sufficient plan in place up front.

Stay ahead of things around a home remodel project from the start. With proper planning in advance, you’ll be better able to enjoy the remodeling process along the way, rather than feel like you’re struggling and trudging through to get to the finish line.