June 3, 2021

According to recent research, two-thirds of Americans have had an ‘eco wake-up call’ since the start of the pandemic. New data from Roofing4Us suggests Americans are now more concerned with eco-friendly home renovations than ever before.

“As people become more passionate about a greener planet, we’re seeing rising trends in sustainable home renovations and eco-design,” said Johnpaul Manning, managing director at Roofing4US. “There’s a mixture of renovations here – some, like eco-walls, are more design focused but do have numerous green benefits – like improving air quality and acting as insulation. Others – like underfloor or renewable heating methods – look to making our homes more energy efficient.”

Here are five ways Manning recommends to make your projects more efficient and eco-friendly:

Invest in Insulation. Insulation is one of the most important factors when it comes to a home’s energy efficiency. If your client’s insulation isn’t good enough, they’re going to be spending more money trying to keep the space warm. If the home has cavity walls, have your client ask their energy supplier about reduced rates for cavity wall insulation. For those without, look at retrofit walls with insulated panels. Insulating a boiler or hot water tank is always beneficial. And while insulation may come with an upfront cost, the money saved year on year means it’ll essentially end up paying for itself – a well-insulated roof can save hundreds.

Go Solar. Solar panels are great for reducing energy bills, generally don’t take up much space and need little maintenance once they’ve been installed. This gives them a lot of advantages over renewable home renovations. Depending on which state you’re in, you’re going to get a lot of sunshine and savings in eco-friendly homes.

Explore Energy-Efficient Lighting. If you haven’t got the funds to install solar panels or new loft insulation, a far cheaper – and also very effective way to go greener – is to install energy-efficient lighting in your client’s home. Some people also look to change the switch placement to encourage those living there to switch off the lights when they go by – the top and bottom of the stairs for example, will see you saving more energy than just one or the other.

Buy a New Boiler. This might not be the cheapest option, but it’s one of the most effective and worth considering if you’re looking to make a real energy-efficient change to your project. Like insulation, this is an upfront cost that pays for itself over time. If you haven’t got the funds to go new, make sure that the old boiler is serviced annually to avoid costly breakdowns.

Save Water. Water-saving taps are a handy way to save on water usage in the kitchen and bathroom in eco-friendly homes. Investing in a water-saving showerhead is a great way to cut back on water consumption, helping the planet and helping your client’s bank balance!