How to renovate existing buildings to go green

When it comes to making a building green, renovating is a much better option than building anew since building requires expending a lot more resources, which has a bigger impact on the environment. So, to make your home, office, or any other building green, it is advised that your retrofit or renovate the old structure. Not only is it more eco-friendly to renovate, it is also more budget-friendly.

First of all, make a master plan incorporating your needs and goals. However, it is important that at the time of implementation you keep things flexible, for instance if you find more eco-friendly materials or resources while renovating then choose them over what you’d planned to. In case you hire a contractor to renovate the building for you then make sure you choose someone who has experience in green remodelling. Also, ensure that you and the contractor are in agreement on the design. Less is more when it comes to going green, and the same applies to green buildings. Optimise space usage by designing the building and its interiors in such a way that things are kept to a minimum.

When the process of remodelling begins there will be a lot of waste generated that you need to contain within the premises. Also, if some of the fixtures that are taken off are re-useable then make sure that they are re-fitted or sold or given to someone else to use; this will help also cut down on your costs. Collect and recycle the unused scraps and waste once you’re done renovating.

If you have a north-facing building that gets enough sunlight then make sure you rebuild in such a way that the sunlight is used aptly and your reliance on artificial light is considerably reduced. You could also incorporate the use of solar energy or design in such a way that you can do so in the near future. Plan for proper ventilation, so the building is airy, which will keep it cooler and free from possible pollutants, which translates into clean air.

Try and use ample insulation wherever required to make the maximum use of the building’s energy; this will help you cut down on costs and resources required for cooling or heating. Choose energy efficient appliances that come with an energy star label. Soon enough some super energy efficient appliances will be introduced in the market that will save 30-50% more energy than the current energy saving models. Use CFL bulbs all over instead of using regular incandescent ones.

Use recycled products as far as possible as well as eco-friendly paints. Also, use organic materials, for instance bamboo makes for some great flooring material. When it comes to using wood for furniture etc., you could use materials from quick growing trees such as Bamboo, Cork and Eucalyptus.

Plant trees around the building that don’t require too much water. Choose water-efficient sprinklers, showerheads, faucets, and flushes. And, remember, ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ are the keywords when it comes to green buildings.