Environment

At Basement Bro we take great care in the selection of the materials we use, and consider where they come from to make sure we are doing our part to protect the environment. If you’re curious about what you can do to make your basement a little bit more environmentally friendly, we’ve put some tips and suggestions together below to give advice to home owners. 

How to make your home more energy efficient:

Insulate Your Basement
In order to get the highest levels of efficiency out of your home, an important first step is to add insulation to your basement ceilings and walls. There are two main types of insulation commonly found in homes. The first is fiberglass insulation, and the second is foam insulation. Of the two, foam insulation is a more premium option as it completely blocks out air transfer, is impenetrable by water, easily fills awkward small areas and doesn't sag or settle. Caulking and weather stripping should also be used to make sure that your home’s heat is kept inside and drafts are locked out, especially for Canadian winters. 

Upgrade Your Windows
Windows are one of the primary sources of heat loss in homes. Consider replacing your windows if you have aluminum frames. Aluminum is a conductor and as such transfers heat too easily. Other types of materials like vinyl are more resistant to heat transfer and should be used whenever possible. You can also increase the number of panes in your windows. Double or triple paned windows work better to keep out the cold. 

Replace or Upgrade Old Appliances
Replace old fridges, freezers, washers, dryers and water heaters with upgraded Energy Star certified versions to lower your home operating costs. High efficiency products only use power when you activate one of their processes and not all the time 24/7 like older outdated products. This is a huge waste of energy. In addition, if you are considering adding a new kitchen or bathroom to your basement, think about low flow features like faucets and toilets to reduce your water consumption. 

Upgrade Your Lighting
Switch your incandescent bulbs to high quality LED lighting. Install beautiful pot lights or consider LED’s for track lighting. There are many options and hues of lighting available. With LED lights you can save up to 80% on your yearly lighting costs! 

If you have questions about any of the materials used in your home and are wondering if they are environmentally friendly, or if you would like to work with one of our specialists to upgrade your home by identifying areas where energy is being wasted contact us online via our contact form.