Green Remodeling – The Next New Wave For Homeowners?
Face it, the odds of energy costs coming down in the near future are nill. Combine that with a stagnant housing market, a glut of starving construction workers, and personal incomes for most not going down, you have the recipe for a surge in Green Remodeling.
The Green movement has always been a fringe element of society as long as it was not affecting the pocketbooks of the American consumer. We tend to think right but act based upon our pocketbooks and what is good for our families.
However, when energy prices soar, the right thing to do for our families is now concentrate on energy efficient choices that will benefit us all. Add to that technological innovations that have improved efficiency while lowering cost on energy savings projects you have the perfect storm.
While things are slow in the construction world and we have some dollars to spend on home improvements, here are a few ideas from the NAHB that will help you save money with green remodeling.
- Toilets, showers and faucets account for 60 percent of water usage in the home, according to the EPA. Replacing these items with more efficient models can save 11,000 gallons of water per year.
- When buying or replacing appliances, choose energy-efficient models. Federal ENERGY STAR-rated appliances are designed to use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard appliances and save an average of 30 percent over standard models.
- Install a programmable thermostat to set your heating and cooling equipment to automatically turn on or off to match your schedule and create a comfortable and energy-efficient living environment. These units typically offer savings of 10 to 15 percent and cost $40 – $100.
- Old windows are often the weak link in energy efficiency. New window technology yields windows that are three times as efficient, or more.
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Comment by lulugal11 on 7 May 2008:
I do not have a house as yet but all these things are simple enough to do when I do get one.
I have started my part in the apartment where I rent by changing all my lights to CFLs and using solar lights where I can.
I also have low flow showerheads in my bathrooms and I am always looking for ways to go green!!!!
Comment by Cynthia on 24 June 2008:
I’d like to add another idea to that NAHB energy efficiency remodeling check list:
Foundation Waterproofing and Moisture Control. Several studies show that waterproofing and insulating your basement and encapsulating a crawl space will result ins substantial savings in heating and cooling costs.
Comment by Susanna on 18 July 2008:
hi – i think these tips are great! i just wanted to pass on another nifty piece of advice…. if you ever are thinking of doing bigger green updates to your home, a great spot to find “green” contractors is servicespider.com. it is kind of an Ebay for homebuilding and remodeling… the site uses an auction format for people to find contractors with certain specifications and in specific categories. the basic process is that a home owner posts a project they need done to their house on servicespider.com and the site then kicks out an email to local contractors to come and bid for the project on line!!! at the end of the auction the home owner selects the contractor he/she wants based on the contractors’ price and reputability. the best thing is the site is TOTALLY FREE and you can review your contractors before you hire them so you know that they are the real deal.
Comment by Keathel on 11 November 2008:
That’s exactly what the guys at competingpros do. You fill out their form for whatever you need to get done and the have 3 contractors contact you it is great! I own properties in 3 different states and they are always there for me where ever my real estate whims take me.