If you are considering remodeling your home to make it more eco friendly, the number one thing most energy surveys recommend is to create a more environmentally friendly and efficient heating method for your home. Many gas and electric companies are now offering energy surveys for modest fees to their customers who are thinking of remodeling their homes, call your local provider to see if they have such services. Here are some that were recommended to me in a recent energy survey for a building I was managing:

Install Radiant heating floors - Once an almost cost-prohibitive undertaking, new radiant heat tiles and flooring make radiant heat available to even do-it-yourself home owners. Radiant heat works by pumping water or electricity under tiles or flooring to warm the floor. This thereby warms the air in a way that forced air or radiators never can and creates the feeling of being warm, even in colder air. Plus, if you’re like me and enjoy being barefoot, it feels great on the footsies.

Solar Heating - Heating your home using the sun is both age-old and new-age at the same time. While actual heating systems that work on solar energy and heat are new and still expensive, there are many ways to take advantage of winter sun for warming your home. Consider having sky lights installed with mirrors to intensify the light and also the heat that they produce. Not only are these great ways to warm your home naturally, adding natural lighting to your home improves many aspects of its internal environment. If you live in a warm climate, make sure that any solar heating has an ‘off’ switch or a way to re-adjust it for the summer time. It is solar heating, not solar cooking.

Replace your boiler - In the last 10 years boilers have become smaller and more efficient than ever before. If your boiler is more than 10 years old replace it with a new energy-efficient one to use less energy to heat your radiators.

Consult a Roofer - Today’s roofing materials offer many selections in insulation. Consult a roofer about creating a more energy-efficient roof, putting up solar panels or even creating a green roof if you have the correct type of building.

Call a chimney sweep - When was the last time a guy in a top hat came to your home? If you can’t remember, or if your kid’s can’t remember it’s been too long. For safety reasons you should have your chimney professionally swept twice a year. Beyond that, chimney sweeps can offer advice on repairing chimneys that leak air, replacing flues and even closing chimneys that are not being used.

More and more builders and contractors are becoming well-versed with environmentally friendly and efficient building techniques. If you want to know what is best for your particular situation, consult a professional but don’t be afraid to ask about all your options. If they don’t know, find someone who does.