Green Roof: An Eco-Friendly Remodeling Option

A green roof uses plants in place of the usual roof shingles or tiles typically installed by homeowners.  To build one, you need layers of material placed on your roof deck.  These include soil-filter cloth, water proof layer, soil mix and of course, plants.

Green roofs can either be intensive or extensive.  One of the major differences is that the intensive type allows homeowners to use the roof top as another outdoor space.  The extensive green roof, on the other hand, is quite low-key and won’t function as an additional space.

These roof types offer benefits to both homeowner and community. They help lower your bills related to cooling and heating your home because they are great insulators.  Studies reveal that homeowners with green roofs have lower demand for air conditioning and this is a big cut in your energy bills.  Moreover, since green roofs act as a sponge, they help reduce the volume of rainwater running into sewers.

Are you planning to remodel your home?  Consider green roofs.  Apart from savings, you get to help the community too.

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Lighting Up Your Kitchen While Saving On Energy

When you are remodeling your kitchen, one of the focal points of the project is lighting. This is because a great deal of time is spent in this particular area of the home.  Modern home kitchens nowadays aren’t just for cooking, washing cookware, and storing pantry items.  It is no longer just a room where you family members eat breakfast.

The kitchen has become a multi-purpose area.  Apart from cooking and dining, some family members converge to this place when there are guests coming over.

For this reason, one of the top kitchen remodeling must-haves of most homeowners is the installation of proper lighting.  Appropriate lighting isn’t confined to aesthetics but is supposed to bring about safety, comfort and efficient use of energy.

Contractors and builders are a great source of ideas when it comes to remodeling kitchens when you want to traverse the greener route.  Here’s what they advise.

Plan the layout

Ready your kitchen layout and indicate the fixtures you want to be installed.  The layout should maximize the use of lighting.  Safety should be a major consideration.  The type of lighting should match the tasks you are to do in each area.  Appropriate lighting for showcasing your favorite decors must also be considered.

Choose fluorescent lights

As much as possible choose lighting products that are known for their energy-saving features.  Avoid the use of old incandescent- type lighting products.  Choose lamps bearing the Color Rendering Index of about 70 or 80.  At this CRI level, the product gives off light with a more natural glow.

When using recessed lighting, make sure the bulbs are either CFLs or LED lamps.  Using these bulb types will bring about energy savings.  CFLs or compact fluorescent lights are more expensive versus regular bulbs.  However, when you think of long-term savings, this bulb is a great pick.  Because CFL will remain functional for up to times more than incandescent bulbs, you save more in the long run.

On the other hand, LEDs or light emitting diodes come in small sizes.  But small as it is, the savings are big.  You’ll probably consume less electricity, around 90 percent, versus incandescent bulbs.

Beware however of the proper use of recessed lights because when installing improperly, it can be a source of air leakages.  When this goes undetected your energy bills may go up because air can go in or out of the house through these small pathways.  Caulking at the rims, when done properly, can prevent air from seeping in or out.

Install dimming controls

Dimmer switches allow you flexibility.  When doing tasks requiring attention to details or those that require careful execution, switching lights at full is appropriate.  However, when using dimmer switches for purely decorative purposes as it is when showcasing your favorite décor or bric-a-brac, a lower lighting is sufficient.  Of course, when your lamp is generally switched to low lighting mode, you save more energy and costs in terms of bulb replacements.

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