Home projects can be earth friendly

Green is definitely the buzz word of the moment. From conserving fuel and finding ways to reduce greenhouses gases, being ecologically minded is on almost everyone's minds.

But when it comes to remodeling a home, can one actually achieve green? Furthermore, what does green remodeling actually mean?

Some consider it to be simply conserving energy, while others say it is recycling materials removed from your home so they don't end up in landfills. Yet, others worry about indoor air quality. In reality, it's a combination of all three and even more, encompassing the selection of sustainable materials and local products to reduce the impact on the environment.

As the scope of the issue is so large, it's difficult to know where to begin. Add to that a wealth of confusing terminology and the homeowner can become totally confused. With careful consideration, however, you can make your home greener, no matter what your project. It's as simple as getting an assessment.

"I would start with an energy (audit), which includes a blower door test with a thermal scan," said Ron Cowgill, president of D/R Services Unlimited Inc. in Glenview. He's also a board member of the Chicago chapter of NARI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. "What that will do is tell you where your house is leaking and give you a game plan on how to tighten it up."

Amazingly, one area that leaks the most is a home's box ribbon, or the area around the perimeter where the basement walls begin to rise above the ground. The most efficient insulation is made of foam, which must be blown into the area where it will be installed.

"It's made of a soybean mixture and is a water blown product," said Scott Sevon, president of Sevvonco Inc. in Palatine. "It seals every nook and cranny and that's the key to insulation."

Sevvonco, a builder dedicated to environmentally friendly remodeling, offers a yearly home maintenance update to find areas where your home can be more energy efficient.

Windows are another place where leaks often occur, particularly basement windows that are usually below grade and have the weakest seals. Check for signs of rot and mildew annually, as well as the condition of caulking, as all of these can produce window leaks. Sevon recommends homeowners retrofit their windows with a flashing kit by DuPont Tyvek that seals leaks.

The next thing would be to check your insulation throughout the house. Most homes have fiberglass insulation, which merely filters out air, Cowgill said. Foam insulation, although more expensive, is much more energy efficient.

"Then you need to blow insulation into the attic and make sure it's vented properly," Cowgill said.

Another big factor in energy costs and the impact on the environment is a home's heating and ventilation system.

"You should go with a minimum of a 13 SEER rating for your home's system," Cowgill said. "What I recommend is to go with the highest efficiency unit you can afford."

Sevon added that the National Association of Home Builders and Remodelers has a section on its Web site where homeowners can compare the environmental benefits of mechanical systems and appliances.

"The site recommends grades of materials, not specific units," he said. "This site is set up like Turbo Tax where you can plug in what you want. Then you can take it to your remodeler who can make specific recommendations."

Similarly, new appliances come with an efficiency rating from Energy Star, which is a U.S. government program designed to help people save money as well as protect the environment.

With energy efficient windows, insulation, mechanical systems and the like in place, the ductwork should not be ignored.

"The worst mistake people made in the '80s and '90s when building their homes is that they didn't look at the duct work," Cowgill said. "Make sure that there's proper airflow so you can get the proper efficiency out of your unit."

Even though your house may have been built to code standards, there's some aspect of virtually every home that can be improved. For one, code is a minimum requirement, which doesn't address energy efficiency. Secondly, consider how long ago your house was built; standards have increased dramatically in recent years.

"Twenty years ago we were putting R-19 insulation in ceilings," Sevon said. "Now it's a minimum of R-38."

Another simple area where you can reduce your home's carbon footprint is the electrical system. For starters, switch your old-fashioned light bulbs to compact florescent lamps, also known as CFLs. Those are the spiral bulbs one sees in the store. But for even greater energy savings, Cowgill recommends LED lamps for recessed lighting.

One of the most popular energy-saving products sold by Greenmaker Supply of Chicago is the Solatube.

"It's much like a skylight, with the lighting based on reflective metal and it's easy to install," said Theresa Minarik-Okuley, Greenmaker Supply marketing manager. "It's great for a kitchen."

Do you have someone who leaves the lights on in the house all of the time? Take care of that problem with a motion detector. Dimmers not only save on electrical bills, they also extend the life of your light bulbs.

"It's so easy to take advantage of some of this technology, as a simple $8 to $15 switch will save you tenfold in utility bills," Sevon said.

Plumbing is another area where green can make a difference, not only in the amount of water used, such as with the low-flow showerheads, but in the amount of energy expended. Think dual flush toilets for different waste needs. These are some of the most popular products at Greenmaker Supply. Depending on your need, you can press one button or the other and get the appropriate amount of water for the flush.

Neither do you have to install a completely new toilet to achieve the same purpose. Greenmaker carries a $16.50 retrofit kit whereby a homeowner can easily turn your traditional toilet into a dual flush unit.

Another toiletry product gaining prominence is the waterless home urinal, which Sevon has installed in his house. Another popular, but pricey product, is an automatic flush toilet, originally developed for the senior citizen market. These gems not only open and flush automatically, if you get one that includes a bidet, you literally don't need any toilet paper. You'll need to run a larger water supply and an electrical line to the area, but in the long run, you'll save money and reduce the impact on the environment.

"One of the biggest surprises for people (who want to go green) is price," said Bob Lehner, president of Lehner-Burton Remodelers in Winfield. "You have options and a lot of people have to make concessions to decide what products they can afford to help save this planet."

One item that will give you a quick return even though it's expensive is a green hot water heater.

"A solar hot water heater will give you the quickest return on your investment," Cowgill said.

Not only will a solar hot water heater save in energy costs, you can also apply for energy tax credits. Think a solar unit may be too expensive? Then try a tankless unit, which is about the size of two shoe boxes.

"It's about double the price of a conventional unit, but you save a ton on energy consumption," said Minarik-Okuley. "The water heats up in 90 seconds so you're never out of hot water."

Once you've replaced your appliances and remodeled one or more rooms, where does all the old material go? The days of having a contractor place a dumpster in front of your home to collect all the scraps and old material are numbered. What green-minded contractors engage in now is called deconstruction, whereby they carefully remove and take apart old cabinetry, countertops, flooring, piping, etc.

Both D/R Services and Sevvonco engage in deconstruction, which helps keep used products out of landfills. Virtually anything can be recycled, including drywall, which can be ground up into pellets for gypsum to be used on lawns, while appliances can be taken apartment for their metal. If an item isn't old and is still usable, it can often be donated to places like Habitat for Humanity's ReStore in Elgin where it serves a dual purpose-the item can be used again and it proceeds from its sale will be used to help build a home for low-income people.

"I estimate that 60 to 70 percent of material in every job that we have is recycled," Sevon said. "Even the material that is placed in the dumpster can be separated and recycled somewhere."

Recycled somewhere and re-engineered into something else to live again as another usable item is a cornerstone of the green movement. That brings the homeowner to another aspect of green remodeling: sustainability, and the move to buy products locally. These days, what goes around, really does have the potential to come around.

Next week: Repurposed furniture, interior design, maintaining a healthier indoor environment in today's green home.