Home Remodeling Steps that Also Help the Environment

Spring often brings about a desire to give your home a fresh new look through remodeling projects. If you've caught spring remodeling fever, why not do so in a way that not only boosts your property value and aesthetic value, but also its green impact as well? Here are some simple steps you can take to make your remodel a success visually and environmentally.

1. Choose That Fresh Coat of Paint Wisely

Painting is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to beautify your surroundings. Did you know that what kind of paint you use can have an environmental impact? Avoid paints types with a high VOC level. VOCs, volatile organic compounds, are chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature and can cause health problems. If these chemicals escape outside, they can contaminate and pollute the air.

2. Try Organic Lawn Care Techniques

Spring is a great time to spruce up your lawn, and organic techniques are a great way to do so. Instead of synthetic fertilizers that take soil's nutrients away, opt for organic fertilizers made from biodegradable materials. The same is true for herbicides – choose organic options whenever possible.

3. Avoid Flushing Away Water and Money

Bathrooms are the largest water wasters in your home, according to studies conducted by the EPA. In fact, over half of the water wasted in the home exits through the bathroom. Thankfully, there are many products available that will allow you to significantly cut your water consumption.  E-friendly products like Niagara Conservation's Stealth toilet, which achieves a powerful, quiet flush using only 0.8 gallons of water, or Niagara's Sava shower head, which can help save up to 5,475 gallons of water per year. You can save thousands of gallons of water per year, as well as hundreds of dollars on your utility bills!

4. Everyday Activities Can Yield Great Savings

One of the best ways to improve performance and save water is by focusing on everyday activities. For example, replacing kitchen and bath aerators with water saving options can make a real difference without requiring any change to your normal daily habits. Niagara's Versa aerators can save homeowners up to 7,655 gallons of water per year – adding up to real water and financial savings that come from washing your hands just as you normally would! These sorts of simple efficiencies are essential components of any remodel.

With these tips, your next remodel project can make as great an impact on the environment as it does your daily enjoyment of the home!