Five Eco-Friendly Renovation Tips

Property Brothers stars Jonathan and Drew Scott reveal how to make your home as green as it is stylish.

Summer tends to be the time many of us finally tackle those home renovations we’ve been putting off all winter. But the next time you decide to have a go at changing up a room in your home, consider how you can make your space beautiful and more energy efficient or environmentally friendly at the same time. Green home renovations may seem like a costly venture at first glance, but they can actually save you money in the long run—plus, you’re helping Mother Nature, which is almost as good of an incentive. Here are five tips from Property Brothers stars Jonathan and Drew Scott on how to make your upcoming renovations as eco-friendly as possible:1. Installing a programmable thermostat is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to be more energy efficient and save money. It allows homeowners to set lower household temperatures at night and during the day when they’re not home. According to Natural Resources Canada, you can even save 2% on your heating bill for every degree you turn your thermostat down overnight.2. Ultra-low flush toilets are an affordable way to lower your indoor water use and depending on where you are in Canada it can cost between $100 and $250 per toilet. According to savings estimates from CMHC, this could save a family of three in Toronto or Calgary about $75 each year when compared to using an old, 20-litre toilet. The water used to flush your toilet accounts for about 30% of your indoor water use, so this is a worthwhile investment.3. Upgrading the insulation in your ceiling and exterior walls will help make your home more energy efficient, saving you money on heating and cooling bills. Homeowners can be expected to save as much as 30 or 35%, (depending on the increase in efficiency in your home).4. An efficient furnace is a worthwhile investment for many homeowners. One of the most efficient types of furnaces on the market today is a condensing gas forced air furnace, which uses 33 to 38% less energy than an old furnace, according to Natural Resources Canada.5. So many rooms! Where do I start? If you’re looking for a simple eco-upgrade to save money, begin with the home’s water centres–the bathroom and kitchen. You might not think much of your water bills, but rates have climbed as much as 8 to 10 percent a year over the last decade. Small green projects, like high-efficiency faucets, showerheads and dishwashers are worthwhile purchases.