Starting a home improvement project is a process that requires more of your attention then you can imagine. Otherwise, you might end up wasting time and money. Or worse, you might find out that after all the work you went through the utility bill increased. Sometimes, if you don’t take the appropriate measures your renovation might end up increasing energy and increasing costs. For example, you wouldn’t want to get a beautiful kitchen design with a higher energy bill.

It seems pretty bad but we have got good news for you. You can get it both: comfort and cost effective. It’ll be so good that you may even save up on your energy expenses.

It all comes down to this: If you are about to change your home to make it more comfortable why not make it energy efficient in the process?

By using efficient technologies and hiring professionals remodeling services providers you can get up to 30 percent of energy saving. That’s a win-win situation: you’ll get a healthier home and you’ll help the environment!

That’s why here we present you with 7 things you should avoid in your remodeling project.

Tip: Before your remodeling projects kicks off, you have to be clear about where to start. It is not the same remodeling your kitchen than your bathroom or your exteriors. Each project will have its own requirements.

1. Safety comes in first

Before we get deep into analyzing energy efficient improvements and Energy Audits, we have to go to the basics. And that’s safety measures. If you are skilled enough (and brave enough) to do the remodeling all by yourself, remember to wear goggles, safety gloves and all necessary wearables. You won’t like what you’ll miss if you don’t. Believe me.

Most home improvement projects involve tools and machines, too. Take all the precautions when manipulating them as well. Being careful with ladders, shutting down electricity if you have to fix electrical problems and paying attention to instructions are obvious matters.

2. Inaccurate measurements

Measurements are a key factor, especially when working on heating and cooling improvements. There is a saying that goes “Measure twice, cut once”, and it is really that important.

Making mistakes when planning HVAC ducts might result in a heat loss, and that can only mean one thing: inefficient energy at home. Your home weatherization performance will go down as it will take longer to cool or heat and, don’t worry, you energy bill will tell you.

Being inches off the mark when installing a solar panel or any other source of renewable energy on your home is enough to lower your energy efficiency or will cause you to incur in extra expenses. It only takes as little as that.

3. Forgetting the big picture (style + efficiency)

You have to remember that every element should be considered in your new home improvement project. That means you have to look at the big picture. For example, in a kitchen remodeling project, you have consider the most obvious elements such as cabinets, flooring, countertops and backsplashes. However, you shouldn't forget about wall color, cabinet lightning and other hardware because it all ties together. Regarding, lightning, electrical and plumbing they don’t only have to look pretty but contribute to your cost effective remodeling plan. Energy efficient appliances are key to accomplish efficiency, too. If you’ll go for the full remodeling, consider changing them in case they consume way to much electricity.

4. Blowing your budget

Everything we have told you so far, seems pretty and ideal. But surely might think those should be very expensive. You might be right, fuel efficiency and renewable energy sources have always been tied to the idea of expensive improvements. The truth is that all the remodeling projects that came up as expensive are those on which the budget was not clearly set beforehand or those on which costs weren’t estimated. If you take into account how the project is going to be like and list all supplies you’ll need, you won’t get surprising expenses. Another aspect to consider is the materials you’ll go for. Unless you have an unlimited budget, most of the time, you don’t need to get all the best in the world (and therefore the most expensive). This way you’ll avoid blowing your budget and find yourself half way your project without any possibility to finish it.

5. Not going green

Now, we can say that you can get the comfortable, healthy home and all at a good price. It isn’t as expensive as you might think and renewable sources are not as futuristic as well. Energy efficient implementations are closer to you than you think. That’s why not going green is considered a decision to avoid. There are so many renewable energy or non-fossil fuel options nowadays that no excuse is valid. Remember it is not all about the good looks; but to transform your home and make it a better place.

6. Not getting an Energy Audit

OK, getting and Energy Audit is not an implementation that you can do by yourself (unless you are professional). But having your home energy audited is a game-changing move. Getting this assessment will tell you accurately what you need to improve and what purchases you should make. This make your budget even smarter and your remodelations more efficient. You will identify air leaks, gas leaks, HVAC leaks, inefficient insulation, inefficient lighting quality, potential combustion safety issues, and appliance malfunctions at your home. This will be translated into lower energy bills and you’ll love it.

7. Not having fun

Last but not less important comes the fun part. Remodeling means you want your home to get prettier, so be creative and don’t be shy to try new ideas. You can experiment with new materials, using different color shades, including art in the form of paintings, sculptures and other decorative items. We’ll leave you the fun part on you but you should avoid being traditional and go for taking risks instead!