From Guest Blogger Jen – Home Improvements: What You Should Know About Energy Efficiency & Recycled Components

If you’re considering home improvements and renovations and want to incorporate your eco-friendly attitude and beliefs into your projects, you’ll discover several ways in which you can do so. The wealth of energy-efficient home improvements available to modern consumers gives added cost savings that mount up over the years, while purchasing products containing significant amounts of recycled materials gives additional environmentally friendly initiatives to your projects.

Eco-Friendly Renovations for Your Home

Just some of the environmentally friendly improvements you can incorporate into your home renovations include:

Home insulation, which is particularly important for properties that are more than 30 years old. You may qualify for rebates towards your costs so it is worthwhile getting an energy audit, to clarify the situation. You’ll certainly benefit from reduced heating bills once your insulation is in place
Replacing your home furnace with an environmentally friendly and modern alternative is an additional way to reduce energy costs while incorporating a more efficient and eco-friendly alternative
Solar power is another eco-friendly option to consider, if your home is suitable. You’ll generate your own electricity and potentially save money on household utility bills for years to come
Replacing doors, windows and skylights with modern units designed to retain heat within the home will also provide cost savings over many years. If you choose a supplier who offers new doors and windows that are fabricated using a proportion of recycled materials your eco-friendliness is further enhanced
If your family are addicted to showering, considering the benefits of drain water heat recovery systems is another energy efficiency measure you could choose. You’ll make substantial savings from the moment your new drain water heat recovery system is installed and these will be ongoing. The hot water that is used for your normal daily living needs is utilised to heat water in your tank, giving you savings on utility bills
Choosing a gas-fired home water heater gives you the benefits of instant hot water, when needed, but reduces the need for water to be constantly heated throughout the day
Your garage door is the largest opening door in your home, replacing the garage door with an insulated garage door which incorporates recycled materials will reduce heating costs over the lifetime of the garage door but also gives you the benefit of purchasing a product which is environmentally friendly into the bargain

These are just some of the countless improvements and renovations you can incorporate into your home projects which will add energy efficiency and allow you to exercise your eco-conscious attitudes, while saving money at the same time.