Home Green Home: Ecofriendly Materials and Resources Abound for House Renovations

There has never been a better time to renovate green, given the abundance of Earth-friendly building materials as well as contractors well-versed in energy- and resource-efficiency

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EarthTalk E - The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Im planning a major home renovation and want to include as many green-friendly features as possible. Where do I begin to look?Matthew Glaser, Queens, N.Y.

There has never been a better time to renovate green, given the abundance of Earth-friendly building material choices as well as contractors well-versed in energy- and resource-efficiency. Many homeowners dont realize that they can save money in the long run, despite the up front costs, by choosing materials and strategies that will lower utility bills and reduce maintenance and replacement costs moving forward.

For starters, look for building materials that contain post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content that can be easily recycled later. Also, make sure the materials are sustainably sourcedsuch as wood certified as sustainably harvested by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). And try to minimize the distance any building materials need to travel to help reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

In areas of the renovation that are not a complete tear-down and re-build, tighten things up by plugging holes, patching or replacing roofing or siding as needed and adding weather-stripping around doors and windows. Also, switch out older single-pane windows with more efficient modern double or triple pane styles. This can pay for itself in energy savings within just a few years while improving comfort. Also replace or add insulation to walls, attics and other spaces to keep heat inside and cold out (and vice-versa). And you can save lots of energy by swapping out old appliances with newer models that qualify for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys EnergyStar label. Such appliances must be 20-30 percent more energy efficient than standard models, and will reduce not only your carbon footprint but also utility bills.

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Home Green Home: Ecofriendly Materials and Resources Abound for House Renovations