Laundry rooms are designed for utility, not decor. But so many laundry rooms become catch-all enclosures for clutter, storage, and other pack-rat activities. After a while, they can become home to hazardous chemicals or firetraps with over-extended electrical outlets, or danger zones for young children.

If you’re going to remodel your laundry room, consider replacing outdated or worn parts on your washer and dryer, as well as electrical and plumbing features that are either in disrepair or require efficient upgrades. And a nice coat of paint or wallpaper can make this often dingy room more pleasing to the eye.

Basements Are Best
If you currently have your laundry in the basement, you should consider keeping it there. The small convenience you gain by moving your laundry room to an upper floors is easily offset by the potential water damage to your home from leaks or flooding. One insurance company reports $170 million in water damage from washing machine hose failures.

A simple laundry room remodel project can include new flooring, expanded cabinets with utility drawers or storage, shelving, new lighting, and, if there’s a window, fresh treatments.

Size Matters
If you need more space, think before breaking out a wall.  There are stack-able and compact washing machines that may be more cost-efficient than breaking out walls. That’s if those models can serve your family.

You may also need to consider room for a new sink or ironing space. Installing new cabinets can double your existing storage and add comfort to working in the room.

Safety First
Using 2002-2004 data, the U.S. Fire Administration division of FEMA reported 15,600 fires, resulting in 15 deaths and 400 injuries-–attributed to faulty clothes dryers. That means, in addition to renovating your laundry room, you should renovate your maintenance routine on washers and dryers.

If you have foil or plastic ducting attachments to the dryer, replace them with modern, fire-resistant corrugated metal to increase the air exhaust. Make a habit of not only cleaning lint traps on the dryer, but cleaning behind the traps and behind the entire unit.

Go Green
And if you want to save energy costs when replacing your washer and dryer unit, shop for Energy Star appliances that can cut your water and energy costs in half. By washing in warm or cold cycles you can also slash your electric bills.

Another tip: Paint your renovated laundry room in light colors so you won’t feel like you’ve been banished to the cave whenever you do the wash.

The use of natural elements in home remodeling and energy-efficient products are more than a passing fling. Homeowners are looking at protecting their investment and the environment at the same time.  And while some so-called “green” lighting and flooring products can warm up the atmosphere of  your home, they can help you save money on your annual energy bills.

A great example is Toolbarn’s recommendation to replace existing light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. The energy efficient bulbs can use as much as 75 percent less electricity, lowering your costs nearly $60 over the seven-year life of the bulb. You can also cut your power costs by installing motion detector bulbs indoor and outdoors. You don’t have to leave the lights burning all night on your patio to scare off burglars.

Looking at Green Homes
Contractors are now offering so-called green homes in special subdivisions. That means you can borrow their ideas and retrofit your home with devices to lower your bills. A new home in Northern California’s “Carsten Crossings” neighborhood offers $1,400 in annual energy savings, according to developers.  Flooring products and sustainable paint materials feature materials that don’t release volatile organic compounds.

Today eco-sensitive homeowners are choosing natural fibers like wool or sisal for their rugs, linoleum in place of vinyl, recycled wood, cork, and bamboo for flooring.  HGTV has a nice pictorial presentation of green flooring products on its site.  Bamboo is known throughout Asia for its durability and easy maintenance.  Like bamboo, cork can be expensive to install, but it is also easy to clean with homemade water and vinegar solution. Both products lend a nice look and are efficient in baffling noise.

HGTV also recommends using recycled wood and reclaimed glass flooring products.  Recycled tiles are bright and you can choose colors that complement your decor.  You can even find ecological carpet flooring constructed out of recycled plastic bottles and corn sugar.

Don’t Forget Green Appliances
Green Home Guide authors recommend that you install “smart ceiling fans” during your home remodeling project. Fans that cost under $70 with retrofit materials that cost under $40 can curb your heating and cooling costs.  What makes these fans “smart” are the sensors that detect when people leave the room, shutting down the fan until occupants return. By using a fan, you can easily raise the thermostat on your air conditioning by 5 degrees or, conversely, drop your furnace temperature by 5 degrees in the winter.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to change the way you live.

I don’t always believe claims on returns on investment for home improvements. The fluctuating costs for materials and labor—let alone the continual development of better products—makes it all a moving target. But I’m thoroughly convinced that replacing your windows with energy efficient substitutes can make a difference in utility bills and curb appeal.

Recently, I heard about tax credits for installing new energy-efficient windows, skylights, and doors as part of the stimulus plan. With contractors scrambling to make up for fewer customers in the current economy and the $1,500 tax credit for new windows, it could be the perfect time to upgrade your windows. You can read about the credit at the Efficient Windows website.

Do An Energy Audit

The Federal Government has a useful online tool for comparing your year’s-worth of energy bills with similar homes around the country based on zip code, square footage, and family size. You’ll just need a 12-month summary of bills from your utility company (if you haven’t saved a year’s worth of statements) to get started.

Once you have a baseline on how your home is performing, you can make an informed decision on replacement doors and windows. A great way to learn about energy savers for your home improvement projects is through The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). Fenestrations are any openings (windows, skylights, and doors) to the outdoor elements in your home.

When you shop for replacement windows, you’ll find an NFRC label affixed to the product. Ratings measure Condensation Resistance, U-factors, Solar Heat Gain, and Daylighting capacities of each product. In fact, to receive the tax credit for your replacement project, you’ll need to buy doors or windows that comply with NFRC ratings and a signed statement from your supplier.

Understanding NFRC Values

The major performance ratings listed on window, skylights, and doors measure R-value, the product’s resistance to heat flow, and U-value, the product’s heat conduction properties. Manufacturers are evaluated by their compliance with federal energy-savings guidelines for

Air leakage

U-factor

Visible transmittance (VT)

R-values

Sunlight Transmittance

Solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC)

Light-to-solar gain (LSG)

For a complete explanation of the measurements and guidelines, visit the government’s Energy Savers website.

It’s certainly worth an hour of your time to evaluate your current energy use, the kinds of replacement door and window products out there in the market, and whether saving up to a third of your purchase price in tax credits.