Embarking on a home-remodeling journey is always fun, especially for those who love treating their creativity to a real re-decorating challenge! The goal of any remodeling project is to merge the beautiful and practical, timelessly chic and functional – and that’s exactly what we’ll be talking about today.

 

However, there’s an added twist – the quest for your home’s best solution won’t end at the best decorating solution you can find; we’re talking about energy efficiency as well and ways to include it into your freshly redone home!

 

To live in a home that aligns with your interior design standards and that is also energy-efficient and economical at the same time is to live in the present and the future. With that in mind, we’re laying out our favorite renovation tips that impact energy efficiency and add to your home’s overall flair:

 

Add some romance

Upgrading lighting in your home may be the first step to creating a lovely, inviting atmosphere without wasting energy. Although most homes target lighting as one of the biggest sources of energy use, you can actually reduce your energy use by adding a few more lights into your home. How? Easy.

 

Replace all current lighting in your home with CFL or LED lighting; also, install skylights, energy-saving windows, and solar tubes. Believe it or not, CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 7 to 10 times longer. You can find them in a variety of sizes and shapes which works perfectly for an unusual home with an interesting touch. Switching to these lights will save you approximately $120 a month.

 

Give your kitchen and laundry room a polish

While your current appliances may be in a great shape, they are probably wasting more energy than they should, significantly increasing your bill. Give your kitchen a remodeling session by painting it in a different color (choose eco-friendly paints) and changing your current appliances to those with the ECO/ENERGY STAR on them.

 

Sell the appliances you already have and use that money for your new STAR kitchen gadgets. Do the same with your laundry room. Another way to save money is to turn the power strips off whenever your equipment and appliances aren’t in use; not many people know that appliances consume energy while they’re plugged in, without even being in use. So, now that you are informed – you know what to do.

 

Convert your attic into a living space

Attics are usually one of those major energy leaks we tend to forget about completely. If you've got an attic that used for storage only, one of the best ways to make it an energy saver instead of an energy waster is to expand it and turn it into a separate living space!

 

Implementing the right attic roof conversions that agree with the overall style of your home will not only provide you with some extra space, but a chance to get involved in an amazing design project and get your creative juices flowing. Plus, you'll save on the energy bill in the long run which makes it a win-win situation!

 

Add insulation and seal air leaks

It’s not just that they look ugly, but air leaks waste energy as well! The best way to put things under control is to check for leaks around windows, through recessed lighting fixtures, electrical outlets, doors, attics and chimneys. Once you detect the problem, find the best way to make it work to your remodeling advantage: for instance, play with plaster embellishments and use them to seal the air leaks while adding a new, fresh touch to your interior. Switch up the colors, add insulation and, by doing so, increase the performance from your heating and cooling systems.

 

Whoever said home changes can't be energy-efficient, had no idea what they were talking about. As you can see, you can get a perfectly polished home that's saving you money and preserving energy, all at the same time!

Written by Carolin Petterson

 

 

About the Author

Carolin Petterson is a Business Lady and contributor for a number of high-class websites. She loves to share her experiences and talk about practical solutions, but her specialties are sustainability, sustainable business and green living.

 

Other articles written by Carolin:

How to Greenovate Your Bathroom

Green Flooring Options for a Healthy Home

Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Flooring Solutions for Your Home

Eco-Friendly Interior Design Ideas

3 Essential Energy-Saving Waterproofing Techniques to Protect Your Home

The Environment and the Economy Are in Danger: What Can We Do?

5 Tips for Starting Your Own Construction Rental Company

How to Make Your Home Greener and More Energy-Efficient