Often times when home owners think of green design, the cost of going green is in the forefront of their mind. This short-term thinking is what pulls most home owners back from beginning environmentally friendly renovation projects. What they don’t stop to realize is that spending a little more money up front will not only save you money in the long run, it will also help save our natural resources.
For example, let’s say you are purchasing a new refrigerator for your new kitchen remodel. You have the option of buying an Energy Star Certified fridge, or a fridge that is slightly less expensive but is not Energy Star Certified. Energy Star Certified refrigerators will be using less energy that you have to pay for, saving you money throughout the lifetime of your appliance. Using an Energy Star Certified fridge would also be reducing the amount of energy being produced using coal and natural gases that release greenhouse gases into the environment. A win for you, and for the environment!
Another great way of being “green” is reclaiming unused space in your home instead of adding on or purchasing a new home. Utilizing existing space in your home is the best way to save natural resources, energy, and money. Think of the space you never use – the dark basement, that dusty attic full of boxes you haven’t opened in years. Those spaces could be repurposed into living spaces without a major addition.
While the cost of a green design project may be seem like more in your budget, it is important to look at the money you will be saving down the road, and the natural resources you will be saving. An eco-conscious design will save you money not only in your future utility costs; it will also add value to your home that you will be grateful for when you decide to sell your property!
If you need help deciphering all of the green options there are available during your home remodeling projects, please give us a call at Mosaik Design & Remodeling.