Making Long Term Savings with Your Home Renovation
Collaborative post
The home renovation market in the US is booming and it’s being driven by several factors.
1. The main catalyst for the surge in people fixing up their homes is the recent pandemic which has left many residents confined to their properties with disposable income to spend.
2021 started in much the same way that 2020 went - with restrictions on movement and prolonged periods at home, which has led to even more expected growth in the remodeling market.
Small project remodeling, the type boosted by the pandemic, grew 13% in 2020, according to Qualified Remodeler, and is set to increase by a further 8% this year.
2. The pandemic is also changing how people remodel in terms of the aesthetic.
Our article Interior Architecture and How Covid is Changing Building Trends explains how the situation has seen more people move towards wellness projects, shifting the focus from how a property looks to how it makes them feel.
There are many reasons for remodeling, but as the US moves back into the Paris Agreement, there’s likely to be a trend towards energy efficiency at a domestic level.
The US will now be focused on reaching net carbon zero by 2050, which will mean an effort by everyone to reduce their own energy consumption.
So how can homeowners strive for better energy efficiency combined with their home renovation, and benefit financially in the long term?
Here are a handful of ideas that might save you money on your energy bills and help the government towards that 2050 pledge at the same time.
Insulation
One obvious method of improving your energy efficiency is by insulating your home properly. In a poorly insulated home, an article by HomeServe on saving energy suggests as much as a quarter of the heat you generate could be lost through the roof. By simply installing insulation in the attic space, you could require less energy to heat your home. If you’re burning less fuel to keep warm, then you’re spending less money. Of course, this has a carbon impact too - less carbon is produced as a consequence of you not requiring as much energy. Get up into your attic space and make sure you are properly insulated.
HVAC
Improving your HVAC system can have a big effect on your energy bills and could contribute to carbon savings as well. Ideally, think about using Energy Star models, which are more efficient.
You may want to improve the HVAC ducts within the system, as they can be a source of energy loss. Often, the ducts lay in unheated areas of the home which means they lose heat immediately after it is produced. If moving the ducts is not possible, think about insulating those for efficiency.
Weatherize your property
Even a well-constructed home can suffer from weather damage, creating small cracks that may appear in walls which leak heat. Every bit of heat lost from your home is energy you have paid for and wasted, so protecting your home from the weather is important. This can be a problem around windows too, so check the property properly for any signs of such issues. Remember, wood contracts in the summer and expands during the damp, cold winter months.
Smart Tech
Adding smart technology to your home can certainly help with savings, although this perhaps constitutes a whole article to itself. Think about investigating items such as a smart thermostat, which controls your heating automatically and can even learn your lifestyle habits and adjust accordingly. Smart appliances in the kitchen can also use energy better and reduce bills, particularly items such as a washing machine, or dishwasher. There are plenty of options for you to ponder in the smart tech industry, many of which are great energy savers.
Conclusion
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to energy-saving remodeling, but with the carbon agreement likely to become big news over the coming 12 months, they serve as a great starting block for your next big home project.
