Greening the American Home

Green is the color to consider when keeping up with the Jones’.
The growing popularity of sustainable design in today’s homes can be attributed to many things, the biggest being the money a homeowner saves in energy costs over the life of the building. With the crippling rise in oil and electricity costs—some 40% in the last decade—the growing interest is understandable.
“Green building is a way of looking at buildings that allows people to be more responsible with energy and natural resources,” says Eric Cory Freed, principal of organicARCHITECT of San Francisco, Calif. “Going green is usually the most logical and economical choice, whether you’re building or remodeling your home.”
Freed believes that in the near future, all buildings will be green buildings, either by preference or regulation. Traditional constructed buildings consume 40% of the world’s total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water.
“You are losing money on every green feature you don’t include,” says Freed. “Anytime you remodel you have the opportunity to save money in the operational costs of your home.”
Today, homeowners have lots of options when it comes to retrofitting their homes for sustainability, including extreme makeovers with energy-efficient everything to small, subtle steps like insulating water heaters and installing dual-flush toilets.
The best thing to insure your remodel is successful is to adequately plan for everything you want done. You need to consider all the factors, which include budget, resale value of your home, and return on the investment. You must also decide if you want to do the remodel yourself or hire professionals.
The end result of your remodel is up to you. But the choices you make now will bring a healthier environment for your family to live in and an updated home you can be proud of.


Seven Points of Interest:

• Not sure where to start?
Make a list of your biggest complaints about your current home. Examine things like outside noise pollution, problems with temperature and light availability; all of which can be addressed through green retrofits to your home.

• Water efficiency:
In the average home, the toilet accounts for approximately 30% of household water. Dual-flush water-saving toilets save money (about 20% on monthly water bills) and reduce sewer loads, while conserving water.

• USGBC
The United States Green Building Council is a valuable source for data on green building. This organization has recently developed a LEED for Homes program that gives developers, homebuilders and homeowners steps to achieve a sustainable home. For more information, go to www.usgbc.org.

• GreenHomeGuide.com
Targeted at homeowners, this Web site gives reviews and descriptions of green products by the professionals that use them. Provides good information for greening a kitchen or bathroom.

• Green Building Costs More Than Traditional Building
This is not 100% true. According to the USGBC green building will add approximately 1% to the upfront cost of building. For that small cost, you get energy efficiency and lower water bills.

• High-end Green Design
The purpose of a green home is to cut down on energy use, increase water efficiency, improve indoor air and use materials wisely. None of these things will affect the design of your home. There are many green options that can add to the look of your home, like bamboo flooring, recycled glass terrazzo and stylish energy-efficient appliances.

• Finding Rebates and Incentives
There are numerous financial opportunities and incentives for greening your home. Local stores like The Home Depot and government agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy offer grants and tax incentives for your project. For more information, contact your local public utility commission, building department and energy sources.