You go out of your way to make sustainable decisions when it comes to your house. Maybe you searched for appliances that use less energy or made it a point to use reclaimed wood for your new wooden floors. There’s no reason why you can’t also make eco-friendly decisions when it comes to remodeling your garage. Not only are green remodeling strategies better for the environment, they also often save you money in the long run by reducing your energy consumption. Take a look at some eco-friendly tips you can use to green up your garage remodeling project.
Choose a New, Eco-Friendly Garage Door
Chances are good that no door or window in your home is as large as your garage door. A leaky, poorly insulated garage door can drive up your home’s energy usage and costs. Replace your old garage door with one that’s airtight and well-insulated.
When you shop for steel garage doors, look for one that’s made from recycled materials. If you prefer wood, shop with companies that deal with suppliers that harvest wood sustainably by planting trees to replace harvested trees.
Use Reclaimed Materials
If you’re expanding or rebuilding your garage, choose reclaimed lumber and other construction materials. Reclaimed materials are those that are taken from something else, like a building that’s been torn down, and used in a new project.
It can sometimes be difficult to use reclaimed materials in the larger part of your house because materials are smaller after they’ve been previously used in another project. But a garage is a smaller-scale project, and the smaller materials are often a good fit. You’ll keep your home’s carbon footprint down, and you’ll waste less building material.
Consider LED Lights
Even after homeowners have replaced the lighting in their home with more energy-efficient options, the garage is often forgotten – especially if you don’t need to use the garage lights that often. But switching out your old bulbs for a more efficient type of lighting is a simple and easy way to upgrade your garage in an environmentally friendly way.
LED lights are often a good choice for a garage setting. LED lights are long-lasting, so you won’t need to spend a lot of time thinking about them. They’re also more resistant to cold than the CFL bulbs you may be using in your home, so you won’t have to worry that they’ll fail you on cold winter nights.
Add Insulation
An insulated garage door is a good start, but it’s not the whole story. Insulating your garage walls can also help increase your home’s energy efficiency if your garage is attached to your house, or if your garage is climate controlled.
You should also take the time to seal cracks in the walls or windows. A little bit of caulk can go a long way toward reducing drafts and improving your energy efficiency. Just make sure that as you seal up your garage, you allow for proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide buildup.
An eco-friendly garage is not just good for the environment, it’s a more comfortable and less costly space. For more great garage remodeling ideas, get a free design consultation and estimate.
