Green remodeling : Rooftop Views

Rooftop Views

Green remodeling

This article is fromFront Range Inspection.

As homeowners consider health issues, skyrocketing energy costs and Earth's natural resources. Green remodeling may increase the value of your home. The driving force behind green remodeling is energy conservation. The average home today uses systems for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and some homes were not built as efficiently as they could have been, resulting in high energy consumption. The U.S. Department of Energy believes if current buildings were green-improved, they would use $20 billion less in energy per year. Green remodeling puts a strong emphasis on making homes as efficient as possible with modifications such as energy-efficient appliances and programmable thermostats. There are many sources that contribute to the air quality inside a home, including: pollutants brought in from the outside, toxic chemicals existing inside the home, and the activities of the occupants. Major contributors are tobacco smoke; smoke from the burning of wood, coal, kerosene or other such substances; toxic fumes from sealants or chemicals from cleaning products; lead paint; asbestos from insulation; damp carpets or fabrics; and certain pressed-wood furniture products that release chemicals into the air. Green remodeling seeks to remedy these problems with things such as better ventilation systems and using wood, paint, and sealants that are nontoxic. Reduced material waste and resource conservation. When remodeling a home, there is often a large amount of construction waste. Because 85 - 90% of those materials can be recycled, green remodeling focuses on reducing this waste during remodeling and reusing materials whenever possible. Some of the methods are using local materials, building with engineered lumber, and using recycling companies to remove waste are all ways this can be achieved during remodeling.

The benefits of green remodeling include:
-Reduces operating costs by increasing efficiency
- Conserves natural resources
- Non Toxic paints and sealants
- Improves indoor air quality
- Reduces waste