Contributed by Kevin Jefferson
Being so focused on their living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms, not that many people pay enough attention to their exterior when it’s time for renovating their home. However, the exterior is what makes the first impression on your visitors. It separates your home from all the others in the area.
That’s why you simply have to think about exterior renovation ideas, but don’t forget to be green when doing so. Only by applying eco-friendly ideas to your exterior can you make a difference in the world and do something good for our planet, so here are a few energy-efficient ideas to consider.
Change the Windows
Many homeowners don’t have windows in mind when thinking about green exterior renovations, but what could be greener? Replacing your windows particularly helps if you’re living in an old house. If it hasn’t seen any improvements in a long time, they are far from being energy-efficient.
New double-glazed windows come with a number of benefits, including
- helping you save money and energy
- improving your home protection
- reducing the outside noise
- boosting the value of your home
But they do have a few disadvantages as well. Namely, they trap heat inside your rooms, they’re hard to repair and they can be costly if you don’t pay attention when choosing them. However, they’ll save you money on bills every single month, so double-glazed windows make a great investment in the long run.
Fix the Roof
Eco-house with turf roof and solar panels. By W.L Tarbert – Own work, Public Domain from Wikimedia Commons
Eventually, your roof will need attention. A roof that leaks water announces it needs repair or replacement. Many people don’t realize that a seemingly sound roof leaks heat. Then they wonder why they’re wasting so much energy, not even knowing the roof might be the problem.
Discovering the leaks and fixing the roof is the first step towards energy-efficiency, but it’s definitely not the last. Once you take care of the leaks, it’s time to take things to a new level and consider turning your roof totally green.
This means creating a small garden on it and planting a bunch of herbs, flowers and plants. They will make your home greener than ever and also help you regulate your indoor temperature more easily.
Install New Cladding
Exterior cladding has great visual appeal. New cladding can make your house appear more elegant and charming than before. It adds something special to it and makes it stand out from the rest of the neighborhood.
But have you stopped to think that exterior cladding – especially wooden cladding– can do wonders for your energy consumption? It will make your home warmer in the winter and cooler during the summer. You won’t have to spend so much money on the heating and cooling system.
Replace the Front Door
Image shows heat loss from the old (right) part of the building compared to newer section with improved thermal transmittance characteristics.
Front doors can also lose a huge amount of energy every single day, old ones. Installing a new eco-friendly door would be the most energy-efficient solution, but it can also be rather costly. An eco-friendly door not only fits well to offer good insulation. Also keep in mind sustainable materials and manufacturing processes when choosing your door.
Weatherstripping your front door instead could be a better idea – it’s much cheaper, but still quite efficient and green. You can do it yourself for just a few dollars, but it will make a giant difference in the energy-efficiency level of your home.
Plant Some Trees
When considering the exterior of your house, don’t forget trees. Planting trees around your home creates lots of shade on your windows. Trees protect your home against the wind and other harsh weather conditions. You’ll have to use much less energy on heating and cooling all year long.
Also, trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere around them and replace it with oxygen instead. They benefit the air quality of the entire neighborhood. Of course, you’ll have to be patient before the trees reach a certain height and start to help you become energy-efficient, but once they do, you’ll be on your way towards total eco-friendliness!
While you are planting, make sure you also pay some attention to the chippings you use in the garden – and make sure they align both with your eco-friendly goals, and go nicely with the effect you want to achieve.
Author:
Kevin has gone through an extensive home renovation with his son, which he has both thoroughly enjoyed, and dreaded every morning. He is now the proud owner of half his dream house (the other half has been waiting for spring). You can read more of Kevin’s work at PlainHelp.
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