Green Goodies: Eco-Friendly Products for the Home

According to Department of Energy data provided by the U.S. Green Building Council, homes account for 21 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. So anything you can do to improve your home’s eco-friendliness helps.

“Remodeling is in itself green,” says Greg Hardwick, president of Hardwick General Contracting and chairman of the Green Building Committee of the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando. “Remodeling is greener than building a new green home.”

Hardwick notes that remodeling requires less raw material to be manufactured and puts less waste in landfills.

Tracy DeCarlo, who is president of One Stop Green Home Certification as well as a certifying agent for both the Florida Green Building Coalition and the National Association of Home Builders Green Home program, adds that green features contribute to energy savings, water conservation, increased durability and improved indoor air quality.

“The homeowner benefits from the reduced cost of running and maintaining the home while helping the environment at the same time,” DeCarlo says. “Why not incorporate green into any remodeling project? It’s a win-win for everyone.”

More encouraging is the fact that going green doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of green, which is welcome news in today’s economic climate.?

For example, Hardwick says low- and no-VOC paint can usually be bought for “not a dime more” than standard paint. He adds that Energy Star-rated light fixtures can actually cost less than standard fixtures.

Homeowners can also view a green product checklist offered by the American Society of Interior Designers and U.S. Green Building Council at www.regreenprogram.org.? The National Association of Home Builders offers information for builders and consumers alike at www.nahbgreen.org.

“The best way to assure your remodel is green,” says Hardwick, “is to ask for it and demand it. Tell the builder you want to be as green as possible, and hold them accountable.”

Adds Rob Smith, construction manager at Phil Kean Designs: “It’s important to hire a remodeler who is experienced in green building to ensure that your improvements are cost-effective and right for your remodel.”

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
> Switch to a solar water heater. With initiatives and rebates, they can pay for themselves quickly. Rebates include $250 from OUC and $450 from Progress Energy.
> Switch to compact, fluorescent and LED lighting. They save energy and last longer than standard lighting.
> Install spray foam insulation. It’s non-toxic and can expand to about 100 times its original volume, filling air gaps unlike standard insulation.
> Reroof and repaint. But use cool-colored roofing and paint the exterior of the home a lighter shade.
> Change the way you wash your clothes. Replace your dryer with one that has a moisture sensor. While dryers are not rated by Energy Star, the sensors can save 20 percent on drying energy when used in conjunction with a washer that has a high-spin cycle. Also, the new front-loading washing machines use appoximately 15 gallons less water and less energy.
> Install low-flow showerheads and bath faucets. Water is an increasingly precious resource in Florida. Low-flow kits are available from Orlando" target="_blank">Orange County for free.
> Install dual-flush commodes. Although these fixtures are new to the United States, the technology has been in use for decades in the U.K. and Australia. An average family of four can save approximately 7,000 gallons per year per dual-flush toilet.
> Look for Energy Star-rated products. Install Energy Star-rated Low-E windows and buy Energy Star-rated appliances and light fixtures. Energy Star-rated appliances are designed to use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard appliances and can save an average of 30 percent over standard models.
> Upgrade your HVAC filter. Use at least a pleated, one-inch-thick, high-MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) filter with a minimum rating of 8. You can even have them custom made and they really don’t cost much more.
> Replace your old HVAC system. But before you do, make sure your contractor has identified and repaired air leaks in your home and in the duct system.
> Install a low-volume irrigation system. Along with adding drought-tolerant, Florida-friendly plants to your landscape, the right irrigation system will save up to 40 percent of the water you’re currently using for irrigation.
> Install solid flooring wherever possible. It’s more energy efficient than carpet and reduces allergens in the home.
> Use low- or no-VOC adhesives, paints and finishes. Low- and no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) construction glue is widely available at Lowes or Home Depot.
> Install green cabinetry. At a minimum, be sure it’s certified under the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) Environmental Stewardship Program.
Source: Tracy DeCarlo and Greg Hardwick