Green is the buzzword of the twenty-first century. As the noticeable “symptoms” of climate change begin to ravage our environment, people around the world are finally catching up with the consequences of heavy industrialization. While finding a simple solution is neither easy nor possible, we can try to appease Mother Nature by adopting every aspect of our lifestyle to the ecologically sensible standards. With that in mind, here are some waterproofing and energy-preserving renovation techniques.
Waterproofing is a big project
A waterproofing housing project is not reserved only for the regions of the world that see copious amounts or rain. Unless you live in a desert environment near the Equator, you should probably consider this undertaking. When humidity seeps into your household’s nooks and crannies, it tends to have a devastating effect over time – leading to mold, mildew growth, development of bacteria, etc. This slowly erodes your household and leads to energy waste.
Waterproofing membranes are often installed onto your household, and this is probably the most frequent and efficient type of refurbishing because it is affordable, quite simple and easy to maintain. The membranes can either be sheet based (the most common technique used) or liquid based. They are usually also covered with a layer of material that prevents future leakages. While it is not a particularly complicated type of renovation, you should be well aware of the fact that this is not a “done deal” once the waterproofing is done – you need to take care of the plastic water tops every now and then.
Bunding and insulating
This is where efficient and unique bunding comes into the picture. This is a type of construction that, in layman’s terms, entails adding another protective layer – or a bund wall – onto the construction that needs to be protected from a plethora of eroding materials, from rainwater (on houses) to toxic acids (on cisterns and tanks). It is quite a common practice and you can use it to your advantage. The walls that have been reinforced with bund walls will stop the liquid from getting into your rooms, which makes it a very popular way to secure households from water damage.
Other sustainable building materials
When you want to renovate your home to preserve energy, you should always consider using eco-friendly materials. Now, realistically speaking, this can be tough to pull off – between eco-efficient and eco-friendly materials, most reasonable people will go with efficiency – but there are ways to keep your conscience clear even in that department. For example, if you need an energy-efficient material that is not necessary eco-friendly, you can turn to reclaimed or recycled materials. This comes in very handy if there is a specific type of roof tiling that goes with your household.
Technology is on your side
While we are on the topic of roofs, covering them with the sturdy latest generation of solar panels can be a good way to start producing most of your energy. While solar panels still haven’t shaken off that stigma of “being too big of an investment,” you should know that many installing companies have convenient credit packages that have been composed in partnership with banks, and they offer good conditions even for people in dire financial straits. The value of your home will go through the roof and the energy footprint of your household will nosedive like crazy, and that is a good thing.
While these tips, tricks and techniques are all beneficial on paper, it is impossible to deny that every renovation project costs a lot of money and most people cannot afford to refurbish their living space just due to the “green thinking” initiative. However, most of our homes require some sorts of renovation every few years, and every time you need to replace something or partially re-skin your house, try to adopt some energy preserving techniques, and, in less than a decade, you will have a complete eco-house on your hands.