Benefits of renovating your home

The reasons to renovate are many – from creating a cosier and healthier home for your family to saving money on your heating bill and knowing you’re reducing your carbon footprint as a result.  

Most of us have spent more time at home than usual recently, so we’re very conscious of our surroundings. Renovation is also hitting the headlines once again, with the Unites States and Canada promoting energy efficiency renovations as one of the best ways to help our economies recover after COVID-19. The ambitious goal to achieve the greatest economic benefit and the greenest climate impact in the shortest possible timeframe. All while improving our health and comfort – what’s not to like?

Reducing energy cost and improving homes

Residential energy use accounts for roughly 20% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States, it’s good news that insulation can help reduce a building’s heating needs by up to 70 percent. Living in an energy efficient building has many benefits; lower energy costs, greater comfort at home, a more valuable property, and less emissions. Spending approximately 90 percent of our lives indoors, it’s our right to live, learn, work and recover in buildings that are comfortable and safe.

Here are just some of the ways you can renovate your building to ensure it’s better for your tenants – and for the environment.

1. Roof

A large part of a building’s energy loss is through the roof. So it’s the first place you should seek to insulate to maximise the energy efficiency of your building and reduce reliance on the grid. A well-insulated roof can significantly cut heat loss, meaning the building will stay warm for longer, even in the face of a heating outage. By using a fire-resilient material such as stone wool to insulate the roof, the fire safety of your building also improves greatly, which is good news for your tenants.

2. Flexible systems

It’s possible to integrate insulation products below solar and photovoltaic systems to help minimise the heat loss, improve efficiency energy and increase safety through added fire protection.

3. Above cellar/carpark

When built above a cellar or carpark, insulating the lower surface of the ground floor can reduce the use of energy and ensure a pleasant floor temperature.