How Sustainable Home Remodeling Can Increase The Value of Your Home
Is it true that you can remodel your home with sustainable methods without breaking the bank?
Absolutely!
In fact, you can think of sustainable remodeling as an investment. In the long run, sustainable homes demand higher prices when they sell. A win-win for home buyers, remodelers, and property investors.
Sustainability is something we've become more aware of in recent years and for good reason. Home buyers are realizing the massive impact that the residential sector has on the environment.
In this article, we break down what sustainable remodeling is, how you can remodel your home sustainably, and why it's better for your wallet in the long term.
First, let's dive into what sustainable home remodeling really means.
What is sustainable home remodeling?
Sustainable home remodeling means using eco-friendly materials and practices when you're doing any kind of work on your house. It's a great way to ensure that you're being environmentally responsible while adding value to your home.
Remodeling your home sustainably doesn't mean spending more money or only using recycled materials—it's about thinking of the big picture. From where you source your supplies to how much waste is generated during the process. This includes everything from:
how much waste you create
what kind of materials you use
how much energy and water you use
Sustainable home remodeling is a process that minimizes waste, preserves our natural resources, and uses environmentally friendly products.
More and more homeowners are looking for sustainable options when they remodel their homes. Not only to do good and reduce their environmental impact but also to add value to their home.
There are many ways to make your home remodeling project more sustainable. One is by using reclaimed materials. Another is by donating old building materials and furniture to resellers/recyclers instead of letting them end up in landfills.
In the next section, we'll outline a few more ways you can sustainably remodel your home ...
How can you remodel your home sustainably?
There are several ways to remodel your home sustainably. Here's 2 worth mentioning:
1. Materials
Windows and insulation are a major factor in an energy efficient home. Poor insulation makes it hard for your home and its systems to maintain their temperature. This puts a further strain on your heating and cooling systems, which draws a significant amount of power.
But during the home renovation process, you can tackle this problem head on.
Like we’ll mention a bit later, you can buy EnergyStar approved windows and insulation products. These have been deemed “energy efficient” by government because they’re considerably better at maintaining your home’s temperature.
Another way to prioritize sustainability and responsibly renovate your home is to focus on alternatives.
For example, there are plenty of wood alternatives that are sourced sustainably:
Reclaimed wood
Salvaged wood
Palm wood
Bamboo
Cork
Sustainable home remodelers use wood alternatives for flooring, furniture, and much else. There are even companies that specialize in reclaimed wood furniture!
And while it may be a bit more work to find and source these materials, the long-term costs savings are well worth it.
2. Equipment and Appliances
During the building or renovation process, a focus on systems is critical. These often overlooked systems are critical to a sustainable, responsible home remodel.
By equipment and systems, we mean:
HVAC system
Water heaters
Water-saving toilets
Low-flow shower heads
Solar panels
These types of equipment and appliances are becoming more common — and for good reason. These will drive down your energy costs and contribute to a more efficient power grid. Plus, when you go to sell your home, these sustainable systems increase the value!
Why is sustainable remodeling better?
When you choose to do a sustainable remodel, you choose to be more responsible with the environment—and what smart home remodeler wouldn't want to do that? A lot of times, sustainable materials are also more affordable, which means you can save a little bit of money while saving the planet.
A common misconception we hear is that "sustainable materials are more expensive." In some cases this is true. But only in the short term. The best way to think about sustainable materials is to take a long-term approach.
Instead of thinking about the money you'll spend in the short term (cost), think of the long-term financial upside available to you when you go to sell or get appraised (investment).
The data supports this too! Researchers studied homes that sold in California. They found that green homes sold for 5% more! On a $750,000 house, that would mean a $37,500 increase!
Sustainable home remodeling is a great way to save money on your energy bill. By using less electricity and water over time, you will be able to get a better return on your investment. This means that when you sell your house, you will have more money in your pocket than if you had used traditional methods of construction.
Put simply: sustainable remodeling is good for your wallet and the environment. Sure it may take a bit of extra work in the short-term — but the payoff is worth it.
At Val Collective, we're students and practitioners of sustainable remodeling.
We’re dedicated to making a positive impact on the building and remodeling industry, and we’re excited to share our lessons with you along the way.
We encourage home buyers, property investors, remodelers, and owners to think different and adopt sustainable practices.
If you need help or advice on sustainable home remodeling, contact us at hello@valcollective, or press the “Contact” button in the top right-hand corner of this page to schedule a call with us.