Home remodeling that respects the environment

Home remodeling that respects the environment

Here are some tips from EarthTalk (emagazine.com) for doing home renovations that can save you energy dollars, improve comfort and honor the environment.

  • Have an energy audit performed first.
  • Look for building materials that contain post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content that can be easily recycled later.
  • Minimize the distance any building materials need to travel.
  • Plug holes, patch or replace roofing or siding as needed, adding weather-stripping around doors and windows. 
  • Switch out older single-pane windows with more efficient modern double or triple pane styles.
  • Replace or add insulation, if needed, to walls, attics and other spaces.
  • Swap out old appliances with newer Energy Star models that are 20–30 percent more energy efficient. energystar.gov
  • Check out the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC’s) Green Home Guide, a free online resource. (You can ask an experienced contractor questions or find green home professionals.) greenbuildingsupply.com
  • Try the Regreen website that offers case studies, interactive tools and do-it-yourself guidelines. regreen.org
  • Research environmentally-friendly building supplies and equipment at The Green Depot. greendepot.com

 

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