subject: Be Green And Environmentally-conscious In Your Remodeling Projects [print this page] Making your home greener is a great goal to shoot for when remodeling, but there is considerable confusion over what makes a remodel green.The field of "green remodeling"lacks federal standards about what constitutes it, contractors are just getting up to speed about what is involved, and homeowners strive to incorporate some green principles into their home remodeling efforts. The term conjures up pictures of solar panels and straw bale construction, but even without going to this extent, it is possible to be environmentally-conscious in your remodeling efforts.
Make your home more energy-efficient. If you leak air around your windows and doors, you waste heat and air conditioning and spend more than you need to as you try to heat and cool your home. If you do an energy audit, you can determine the source of leaks and then weather-strip or go to the next level and replace windows and doors.
You can also insulate your home for great energy savings with green alternatives such as cellulose, spray foam, and fiberglass.The industry standard in insulation is fiberglass, though it contains the least recycled content (less than 30-0%) and often triggers allergies since it contains formaldehyde and releases glass fibers into the air. Depending on how the insulation is installed, it can develop voids and compression that reduces the effectiveness, although it will still reduce heat loss.
The most environment-friendly product is cellulose blown-in insulation composed of 85 percent post-consumer papers (newspapers, yellow pages, etc) and 15 percent borate additive (which is retards file, inhibits mold, and repels rodents.) This type of insulation takes the least amount of energy to produce. Once installed, it reduces noise and keeps the house warmer
Spray insulation is made from petroleum, so is not considered "green" in its composition, but its density and ease of spraying into crevices and high vaulted ceiling areas make it a good choice as an air and moisture barrier. It can also make walls more rigid and sturdy.
Consider reconfiguring instead of expanding. Remodeling may involve expanding the size of the home, which requires materials to complete and additional resources to heat and cool. In many cases, interior space can be reconfigured to allow more space for storage and living. Even though moving plumbing and electrical lines is costly, changing the position of sinks, tubs, and heating duct can allow for a better use of space without expanding the footprint of the house.
Use environment-friendly paints and materials. The paint used in remodeling dispels chemicals into the air long after the initial smell is gone. Similarly, many cabinets made of pressed wood contain formaldehyde, which also emits vapors. You can reduce the toxins released into your home by using low or no VOC paints. The lack of volatile organic compounds (hence, the VOC) diminishes the emissions but not the durability and cost-effectiveness of the paint. You can look for cabinets made from formaldehyde free synthetic resin or alternatives such as wheat board composites
Use sustainable materials.When doing a major remodel, you might plan on installing new counters, cabinets, and floors made from sustainable materials. You can choose cabinets made from renewable woods like bamboo, sustainably-harvested hardwoods, or from properly-made composites.
If you plan to reface your cabinets, you can choose low-VOC glues and ABS edge banding that lacks the chlorine found in PVC. While you might think of granite when searching for new counter tops, recycled glass, butcher block, recycled paper, sustainable wood, or recycled metal are all viable alternatives with environmentally-friendly credentials. When you consider flooring, glass tile, bamboo, linoleum, cork, or hardwoods from sustainably managed forests offer exciting options. If you are willing to think outside the box, there are excellent choices available.
Even in the absence of standards for green remolding, you can make responsible choices. If you plan to have your work done by a contractor, you should find one with experience with this type of approach. If you are going to do-it-yourself, low VOC paints are readily available, but you will have to search out vendors of sustainable products.
