Green Livin Beloved Muppet Kermit the Frog once crooned that it ain’t easy being green. Think how hard it is to remodel in an ecologically-friendly manner when your supplies are wood, stone and chemicals.
The Chicago Sun-Times provides a list of green-friendly remodeling tips:
HOME REMODELING Environmentally friendly advice to fix up entire home
If you’re planning on remodeling, now it’s easier to do it green.
The City of Chicago Department of Environment has produced six new guides to help homeowners remodel in ways that use less energy, improve air quality, minimize waste and recycle. Greater energy efficiency means cost savings, reduced pollution and increased comfort.
Kitchens
The Kitchens guide covers flooring, appliances, cabinetry, countertops and tile.
It’s estimated that the average kitchen accounts for 20 to 40 percent of a home’s total energy bill. If your refrigerator and dishwasher are more than 10 years old, you can reduce your utility bills by replacing those old appliances.
Another money-saving trick is to size your appliances to your needs. The style of fridge is important too. In general, models with the freezer on top use up to 25 percent less energy than comparable side-by-side models. Models with through-the-door ice and water use more energy too.
New cabinetry can be the most expensive component in a kitchen remodeling. First, determine whether your cabinets need to be replaced or resurfaced, refinished or repainted. If space is the issue, there are ways to maximize what you already have. Increase storage by adding shelves within the cabinets. Pullout shelves can be added that allow you to retain the existing cabinet doors.
Baths and laundry
The baths and laundry guide explores energy-efficient and water-efficient alternatives for showers, baths, sinks and toilets.
Where do you begin? Define your priorities. Create a list of your most common tasks. Does the design make tasks easier? In terms of space, take an inventory of all categories of space: personal space, elbow room, storage space and floor space. Explore simpler solutions first, such as creating a grooming station in the bedroom to free up traffic jams. Or consolidate cleaning supplies in one area (that’s inaccessible to children, of course).
Building envelope
With the building envelope guide, you can learn weatherization techniques for your home. How to choose roofing materials, insulation and windows is addressed as well.
A home’s building envelope consists of structural materials and finishes such as siding, sheathing, windows, doors, roofing and other materials that prevent heat loss through air leaks.
For example, your roof has a tough job; after all, Chicago receives an average of 33 inches of rainfall and 3 feet of snow every year. Your roof’s ability to shed this moisture dramatically affects your home’s longevity.
Weatherization includes tightening up the building envelope by using caulk, foam and weather-stripping.
An adequately insulated home will provide energy savings and a comfortable environment. Homes that were built before 1970 have little or no insulation.
Painting
The topics in the painting guide include removal of old paint, color choices and low-voc (the least toxic) paints for family and house health.
A new coat of paint can brighten a home, but the painting process can compromise indoor air quality and even release toxic substances (such as lead from existing painted surfaces).
Six hundred million gallons of paint are used every year, according to the National Paint & Coatings Association. A significant portion is wasted through buying too much paint or improper storage. Some of this paint ends up being improperly disposed of, which threatens public health, wildlife and water quality.
Salvage and reuse
In salvage and reuse, you can learn about reuse opportunities in your home, including flooring, molding and cabinets as well as products made from recycled goods.
The City of Chicago requires contractors to recycle construction and demolition debris. Since March of 2006, more than 430,000 tons (or 90 percent of the material generated) has been diverted from landfills. Although home projects represent only a portion of the construction waste total, remodeling invariably results in a variety of items being discarded.
You can incorporate recycled items into your project. For example, you can find salvaged supplies for almost every building material. Especially in Chicago’s vintage homes, used building materials can temper the newness of a remodeling project while tying fresh elements to the existing home.
Hiring the pros
How to find green contractors or architects is explained in this section of the green remodeling guide.
For your remodeling project, your contractor will need special skills and experience. The ideal green remodeling professional will offer direct experience with a project scope similar to yours, plus plenty of knowledge for green concepts and practices.
Remember, you often get what you pay for when hiring a contractor. The lowest bid seldom turns out to be the best deal.
Download the complete series of green remodeling guides at www.cityofchicago.org/environment. Chicago Department of Environment, (312) 744-7606.
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