As more and more people are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and live a sustainable lifestyle, finding ways to incorporate eco-friendly solutions into home renovations is becoming more common. Your home’s exterior is one area where you can make an impact, while also enhancing the curb appeal and value of your property. Keep reading for some eco-friendly ways to upgrade your home exterior the next time you renovate.

Are Eco-Friendly & Energy Efficient The Same Thing?

When talking about helping the environment, it’s easy to group the terms eco-friendly and energy efficient together. But are they really the same thing? In reality, you could have an eco-friendly home that is not energy efficient, or energy-efficient features that aren’t eco-friendly. Generally speaking, an eco-friendly home is one that is built using environmentally friendly materials that have a minimal impact on the environment.

On the flip side, energy efficient refers to using less energy which is usually tied to lowering your energy bill. However, energy-efficient homes will end up minimizing the environmental impact once they are up and running. For the purposes of this post, we’ll look at both eco-friendly and energy-efficient ways to upgrade your home’s exterior.

Energy-Efficient And Eco-Friendly Ways To Upgrade Your Home Exterior

Tight Seals And Energy Star Certifications

Entry doors and windows that are tightly sealed and carry Energy Star certifications will help you reduce energy consumption throughout the year. Whether it’s the dead of winter and frigidly cold outside or the middle of a summer heat wave, upgrading your exterior doors and windows to get a tight and secure seal will make a big difference.

Xeriscaping Your Lawn

Saving as much water as possible is on the wish list of every eco-friendly homeowner, and you can save a considerable amount of water by xeriscaping your lawn. This refers to the practice of using water-free alternatives instead of grass, creating a sustainable outdoor space when it comes to water savings. Some of the most common alternatives include pea gravel and stone.

It’s also important to note that xeriscaped lawns require less energy consumption because you don’t have to use gas-powered or electric lawnmowers or weed eaters to keep them looking great. You also won’t need to consider synthetic fertilizers, and you won’t have to haul away grass clippings after mowing the lawn. With so many different options available these days, this type of eco-friendly exterior upgrade is sure to catch on.

Composite Roof Tiles

Most homes lose a lot of energy through the roof, as even the smallest leak can cause your energy bills to jump considerably. Whether it’s in the winter or the summer, if there is an escape route at the top of your house, you’re going to be losing energy and will have higher monthly bills. Composite roof tiles create an impenetrable seal against all of nature’s elements, and they require little maintenance on the part of the homeowner, making them a popular energy-efficient choice.

Improved Siding

Old or damaged siding not only looks unattractive but it can also cause your HVAC system to work harder than it needs to, affecting its energy efficiency. For an eco-friendly edge, some homeowners turn to materials that follow eco-friendly guidelines such as being non-toxic, biodegradable, coming from nature, and being certified as a ‘green product’. Adding new vinyl or aluminum siding can also boost the energy efficiency of your home while helping you save time and energy when it comes to maintenance.

Dual-Paned Windows

Another eco-friendly home exterior upgrade is to add dual pane windows to your home. A dual pane window offers great insulation, as well as soundproofing qualities that will provide you with peace and quiet on the inside. You can find a handful of different varieties of dual pane windows, including airfield, gas field, or silver coated. These will give you great thermal performance, keeping the heat inside during the winter and out in the summer.

Using Reclaimed Wood For Decks

If you’re considering creating a new patio or deck for your outdoor living space, using reclaimed wood is great for home exterior upgrades that are eco-friendly. When you use reclaimed wood, you can feel confident that no new trees had to be cut down for you to have your deck, and older wood often looks rustic and stylish once the deck is complete. It can be challenging to find reclaimed wood, so you will have to ask around, but if you’re able to get some, make a point of treating it properly, so it remains in good condition and lasts a long time.

Harnessing The Sun’s Energy

One of the most prominent eco-friendly home exterior upgrades you can make is to utilize solar panels to harvest the sun’s energy. Naturally, you can use solar energy for both the interior of your house and the exterior, but if you’re focusing just on the exterior, it can be used to power outdoor lights, sprinklers, and anything else you need power for outside. And if going solar isn’t in the cards at the moment, you can also make a difference simply by switching any regular outdoor light bulbs with LED lights.

Eco-Friendly Exterior Paints

If you’re looking for eco-friendly exterior paints for your house or fixtures around the property, look for a brand that has zinc oxide as the fungicide, as all exterior paints have fungicides in them. You should also look for zero to very-low-VOC paints, recycled water-based paints, or latex and acrylic paints. Keep in mind that oil-based paints have higher VOC content, and if you decide to use paint from older cans, they may contain mercury or lead.

Planting Trees

In a strictly energy-saving kind of move, planting trees around your house can help to provide shade and reduce your energy consumption throughout the year. Depending on the type of trees you plant, they can also help improve air quality. If you’re looking to create shade in the summer, be sure to plant any trees or bushes on the south or west sides of your house.

If you’d like to learn more about how our team at Weaver Exterior Remodeling can help revitalize your home’s exterior, get in touch with us today for a free quote.