Unfancy Green
Posted on Feb 25th, 2009 by Doug Marsh VP, CR, CAPS, GBP | 0 Comments
2/25/09
Doug Marsh CR, CAPS, GBP
I think it is interesting that the media portrays the fancy stuff when it does a story on Green Building: from full house “off the grid” Photo Voltaic systems to rain water harvesting with 30,000 gallon, below ground tanks to high quality but expensive roofing materials. It seems that a lot of the simple, doable Green techniques and tasks are left behind because they are not so glamorous. The great thing about this is that a lot of the things that you have always wanted to do to your home for comfort and health turn out to be Green too. In our business we get calls for all kinds of improvements to a home and a lot of these can be individual components or part of a larger remodel. These improvements can provide health, financial, value , comfort and beauty into your home environment.
• Windows. Don’t we all need new windows? Are yours hard to open? Fogged up or scratched? Leak air like crazy? Well the new Energy code has caused a revolution in window replacement techniques and products. Every new window sold should now be energy efficient and compliant with the new Energy Code. This means there are many affordable windows available that are attractive, operate easily, and are Energy Star rated. Vinyl windows, which are a huge improvement over aluminum windows, are not only very affordable, but now come in 12 different colors which is an improvement over white and beige. New windows are a simple, key Green upgrade: properly weather-stripped, sealed for energy savings, built to lower heat gain and loss. We often put in quality wood windows which add so much beauty to your home and allow you to paint the inside to match your décor. Windows are a very important feature of just about every project we build.
• Tankless Hot water units. Have a closet with a tank in it that has a gas fed fire under it? Is it an older hot water heater? Could you really use that extra closet space and cut your water bill in half? If the answer is yes to any of these questions them you might want to consider putting in one of these units. We are putting these in almost every project: they are a space saver and they can cut your gas bill for heating water in half.
• Tired of your old kitchen? Kitchen remodels represent the single best return on your remodeling investment dollar. There are many Green elements that can be brought in to your favorite room in the house that can give you comfort, beauty, value, and a healthier environment all at once. Need counters? Just try a Google search and see what is out there: paper stone; local granite; quartz counters like Cambria, Zodiac, Caesar stone, soap stone; concrete, recycled glass. We have worked with all of these products and what about the ones that have to be trucked in? Well at least all of these products will be beautiful and last for a long time and that sustainability is a key Green component too. Cabinets? Non off gassing plywood boxes with managed forest hardwoods for fronts and doors is a great way to go now. Water wise faucets, energy star appliances and light fixtures provide more beauty, comfort, and energy savings in your new kitchen. Tile, wood, stone, bamboo for the kitchen floor gives you longevity for value and sustainability.
Okay but how about a bigger project? The idea of remodeling your home for added space or upgrades is a form of recycling: less commuting, closer to bus loops, utility hookups exist already. Want to build that new master suite? Design is Key. Today building technology is changing rapidly and it is important to get help in this area. The upfront expense of qualified design will be paid back in short order. The Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical components of a home are of paramount important. For example recessed cans for lighting are a consumer favorite however they are essentially a hole in your ceiling if you currently have a conventional attic (vented). In our hot humid climate HVAC design and installation is virtually the most important component in a structure. The 2006 energy code mandates Manual J calculations for sizing and design of the HVAC equipment. Manual J is a software program that takes inputs from the house including size and type of windows and insulation and gives the ducting size and air flow calculations and equipment size for the your house. This is something we really need when replacing equipment and/or ducting or building on to a structure or building new. Not only is it the code now but the payback is enormous and quick.
Planning to stay awhile in your home? Aging in place is becoming an important part of our design focus. This is a Green approach because planning for the future is a form of sustainability instead of the “tear it out again” mentality. Our CAPS certification (certified Aging in Place Specialist) gives us the ability to provide universal design considerations for now and in the future. Combining universal design capability with our longtime membership in the City of Austin Green Building program allows us to incorporate key elements into our design and building style that go hand in hand with other Green enhancements in the home to provide a beautiful, healthy, comfortable, usable, and, very importantly, valuable home.
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