Green kitchen and bath remodeling ideas
There are some tips that apply to both kitchen and bath replacement and remodels. Choosing durable, trend-resistant materials that will last for decades is first among them. Cheap knockoffs tend to break down quickly, costing you more in the end and clogging landfills faster.
Many of my clients include fixtures and appliances they already own in their remodels, contributing to two of the three green “R’s”: reduce, reuse and recycle. They’re reducing the material that ends up in dumps and reusing quality materials. This makes sense for appliances with top-rated energy and/or water savings and fixtures that are also efficient. On the flip side, preserving a 20-year-old resource hog does not make sense.
Contact the appraisers at www.scappraisals.com to help determine what the added value is for remodeling.
Budget tips for green kitchens and baths
There is a growing selection of kitchen and bath sink faucets with WaterSense certification in just about every price range and style. Updating these particular faucets is relatively cost-effective and can add both fashion, water-savings and functionality to your space. I’m particularly bullish on hands-free models that deliver convenience and reduce germ spread at the same time, though these are generally pricier and harder to find than their standard counterparts.
Another low-cost green idea is to replace your incandescent bulbs with dimmable compact fluorescent or LED bulbs, both widely available now.
Finally, choose paints that are low or no-VOC (volatile organic compounds) for indoor air quality. Just about every brand offers them now, so you won’t have to compromise on color while saving your lungs and the planet.
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Green Real Estate Appraiser 