A Guide to Eco-Friendly Home Renovation in Greater Los Angeles

• Eco-friendly home renovation in the greater Los Angeles area can save you money in the long run while reducing your carbon footprint.
• Eco-friendly renovation materials like reclaimed wood, bamboo, and hempcrete are excellent materials for sustainability.
• Save money and reduce energy use with energy-efficient upgrades.
• Conserve water with your eco-friendly home renovation in bathrooms, kitchens, and outside.

Sustainability is more of a hot topic in construction than it has ever been, and as a state of tastemakers and pioneers, it’s no wonder why homeowners throughout Southern California are beginning to rethink how they design and remodel their living spaces. If you’re planning an eco-friendly home renovation project in Los Angeles, then you probably already have some goals in mind:

• Cut back on energy costs
• Reduce your environmental footprint
• Create a space that feels good to live in

No matter your reasons, there’s no doubt you’re in the place to do it. As one of the most forward-thinking cities in the U.S., Los Angeles is pushing more and more for greener real estate development, and single-family homeowners are at the heart of the movement.

So, whether you’re upgrading your kitchen with an open layout remodel or thinking about a full home renovation from the ground up, eco-conscious remodeling is right at your fingertips.

The New Age of Eco-Friendly Home Renovation in Los Angeles

From ongoing droughts to devastating fires, LA homeowners are constantly reminded of the importance of how the residential and commercial environment affects natural surroundings. And with rising energy and water costs, there’s a stronger case for sustainable building than there ever has been.

While CALGreen and Title 24 are continuing to push builders to undertake high-efficiency construction, many homeowners are choosing to go the environmentally friendly route on their own.

Not only is sustainable home renovation good for Los Angeles and the rest of the planet, it’s also an excellent way for homeowners to begin planning for the future.

How to Plan Your Next Green Renovation Project

Great eco-friendly home renovation in Los Angeles starts with having a plan, and who better to create a plan for you than a contractor who has experience with sustainable construction and remodeling?

Cooling using passive design, water conservation tactics, and solar panel placement are just some of the things your architect, interior designer, and home remodeling contractor should be able to work with you on.

And, of course, there’s no shortage of eco-friendly home renovation ideas to choose from, which follow the ethos of these approaches, including backyard xeriscaping and natural ventilation installation.  

What Kinds of Eco-Friendly Renovation Materials Should I Look For?

In terms of building greener, eco-friendly renovation materials are where you start.

These are some of the best sustainable construction materials around:

• Reclaimed Wood: Strong but lightweight. One of the most biodiverse materials on the planet.
• Bamboo: Fast-growing, ultra-flexible, and incredibly economical. We love it for floors and wall accents.
• Recycled Steel: As one of the most recycled and in-demand building materials, recycled steel greatly cuts back on operational carbon emissions needed to produce new steel.
• Cork: While it may have practical applications in our everyday lives, from cork boards to wine bottles, it’s also one of the most fire-retardant insulation alternatives out there.
• Hempcrete: One of the few “carbon-negative” materials. Very strong and lightweight, used primarily as insulation.
• Mycelium: With pasteurized sawdust, this fungi “root” can be turned into biodegradable building materials.

Using locally sourced, eco-friendly renovation materials can lessen your footprint even more by reducing transportation emissions. While many sustainable home renovation materials cost more upfront, they can also last much longer and provide better performance in the long run.

Energy-Efficient Upgrades to Look Into

During most eco-friendly home renovation projects in Los Angeles, one of the first things to consider is how you can save energy. While larger improvements like solar panels can offer obvious benefits in the form of tax breaks and increased home value, even something as small as smart appliance installation can offer a great deal of improvement.

If you’re planning a remodel or new home construction, you can start with the basics, like insulation, dual-pane low-E windows, and smart thermostat installation. From there, you can add LED lighting, solar water heaters, or geothermal heat pumps to increase your home’s efficiency.

Some homeowners are also starting to install battery backup systems for their solar to avoid outages when energy is in high demand.

Altogether, these are the elements of truly sustainable home renovation.

One of the main focuses of thoughtful, eco-friendly home renovation in Los Angeles is water conservation, and the goal of any great sustainable contractor is to provide these upgrades in a way that reduces waste without sacrificing comfort and performance.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Low-flow faucets and showerheads
• Dual-flush toilets
• Drip irrigation systems
• Rainwater harvesting
• Native or drought-tolerant landscaping

These are excellent, sustainable options for staying compliant with local water regulations while making a noticeable dent in your monthly water bills.

Get Started with Sustainable Home Renovation in LA Today

An eco-friendly home renovation project in Los Angeles is a chance to build smarter, cut back on waste, and design a home that truly aligns with your values. Nowhere in the world do design-forward thinking and eco-friendly renovation go hand in hand quite like in Los Angeles.

If you’re ready to get started with your next project, get in touch with our team here at 5blox to learn more.