No one gets the need to protect against unpredictable Hoosier weather quite like Indianapolis-area homeowners. After all, your house is your castle. It’s where you make memories with your favorite people. Exterior house upgrades are part and parcel of good homeownership. What if those upgrades could offer more than protection? What if they could lower your energy costs and minimize your environmental footprint?
The good news is that sustainable home improvements offer a compelling return on investment, helping you save money over time. Let’s look at how eco-friendly home upgrades can transform your home’s exterior. We’ll get into how these changes add value and put more money back in your pocket.
What Are the Benefits of Choosing Sustainable Exterior House Upgrades?
The main benefits of sustainable home improvements include long-term savings and better energy efficiency. Improved aesthetics are another bonus. There’s also knowing that you’ve reduced your household’s environmental footprint. Indianapolis-area homeowners craft more comfy, valuable, and responsible living spaces through eco-friendly means and methods. These exterior house upgrades add durability. This means less frequent repairs and upkeep. This also means you’re spending less money on your home. Now, you can put that money into savings for other things that matter.
How Can Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors Save Me Money?
Energy-efficient windows and doors curtail heating and cooling costs. These exterior house upgrades significantly reduce the transfer of heat. Old, drafty windows and doors are your main culprits for energy loss. They allow conditioned air to escape in those humid Indy summers. During a harsh Indianapolis winter, those same drafty doors and windows allow warm air to flee. Upgrading to ENERGY STAR®-certified windows and doors is a no-brainer as an eco-friendly home upgrade. They come with multiple panes, inert gas fills, and low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings. All of these features create a stronger thermal barrier. Your indoor temps are much more consistent, and if your HVAC system could talk, it would thank you!
Can Sustainable Siding Options Really Lower My Utility Bills?
Sustainable siding can pulverize your utility bills through superior insulation. They also reduce air leakage. Insulated vinyl, fiber cement, and reclaimed wood all have superior thermal performance to their older counterparts. Insulated siding introduces a rigid foam backing, which adds an extra layer of R-value (i.e., resistance to heat flow) to your home’s exterior. The advantage here is the minimization of thermal bridging (the flow of heat among conducting materials). Your indoors are more stable. This results in a lower toll on your furnace and air conditioner; a must for surviving frigid winters and scorching summers.
What Role Do Sustainable Roofing Materials Play in Energy Savings?
Eco-friendly roofing materials are critical for energy savings. They reflect solar heat, improving ventilation and insulation in your attic. Consider some of your options here:
- Cool Roofs: Reflective pigments or granules bounce sunlight away from your roof. This means cooler attics and living spaces during the warmest Hoosier summers.
- Metal Roofing: Durable and eminently recyclable, this roofing material reflects a considerable amount of solar radiation
- Proper Roof Installation: This exterior house upgrade also covers sufficient ventilation. Preventing heat and moisture buildup means a cooler home.
Think of the ways that a hat might make you more comfortable in more extreme temperatures. Sustainable home improvements help in much the same way.
Are Gutters and Decks Sustainable Exterior House Upgrades?
Gutters and decks may not immediately spring to mind as far as eco-friendliness goes; however, these exterior house upgrades do protect your house. Properly built gutters and downspouts divert rainfall away from the foundation. Decks also act like a shield for your home’s base. In both cases, your foundation sees less water damage. Less water damage = less mold growth and soil erosion.
Recycled composite decking or responsibly sourced wood are excellent materials. Their use minimizes waste and fights deforestation. These types of decks call for significantly less upkeep. For example, you won’t need to paint or stain composite wood decking. An upgrade to your gutters or decks is a sustainable home improvement that pays off in spades.
Are There Eco-Friendly Paint Products That Contribute to a Smaller Environmental Footprint?
There are many eco-friendly paint products that significantly diminish your environmental footprint. They’re excellent options for Indianapolis homeowners wanting to make sensible upgrades from the outside in. Here’s what paint offers as an eco-friendly home upgrade:
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): These compounds evaporate into the air as paint dries. They cause headache-inducing indoor air pollution and smog. Occupants may also suffer from dizziness and respiratory issues. Eco-friendly paints are a more comfortable, VOC-free alternative.
- Natural Ingredients: Sustainable paints make use of ingredients available in nature. Plant-based oils, minerals, clay, and chalk are a few examples. They’re easier on the lungs, including those of small children and pets.
- Water-Based: Most environmentally friendly paints are formulated with water; easily cleanable with just soap and water. This avoids the need for harsh chemical solvents.
Environmentally friendly paints and stains are exterior (and interior) house upgrades that are good for your health and well-being. Better health can also translate to money saved.
Get Your Sustainable Exterior Makeover Today
Sustainable exterior house upgrades are a win-win for any Indianapolis homeowner. This is especially true for anyone hoping for a healthier planet. Energy-efficient windows, cool roofs, and insulated siding are just a few of the many available eco-friendly home upgrades. But more than sustainable home improvements, these upgrades also extend your money. Who doesn’t love having more funds to do other important things? Strenova Exteriors is here to help you upgrade your residence into an energy-saving haven. Get a free estimate today and take a step toward a more sustainable and valuable house.