Some of the latest ideas for home improvement options that can save money, energy and the environment
Green House By Morgan Zenner
A green investment is about saving money, improving a home’s energy efficiency and conserving natural resources. These days, the word “green” is everywhere, but homeowners need to know: What exactly does it mean to go green? According to Building Design & Construction magazine’s White Paper Survey, 55 percent of building industry professionals said they had trouble sourcing green products, and out of those, 81 percent said “green” was not always clearly defined. Why all the confusion? At one time, green products were considered anything manufactured with at least 30 percent recycled material, but now, there are several other factors that determine sustainability. Every material has energy output; the question is how much and what type. Currently, green products are ranked by their Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which takes into consideration manufacturing practices, installation, use and eventual disposal. Americans have also been learning more about increasing energy efficiency recently. By lowering energy use, homeowners preserve existing resources and practice sustainability. With all these factors, going green is still not as clear cut as homeowners may have thought. So here are items to keep in mind in considering a green investment of your own.
National Association of the Remodeling Industry
Roofing
BEFORE
AFTER This St. Petersburg, Fla., home took full advantage of a natural resource, the sun. TriplePoint Construction LLC helped them install a 90-percent recycled metal roof to reflect the heat from the sun and make use of the natural Florida sunshine by inserting windows throughout to reduce electrical usage. 16 MAY 2010 Carolina Country
A main option for a “green” roof is one that’s made from recycled content or from recycling existing roof structures that are being replaced. There are many asphalt roofing collection facilities nationwide that welcome old roofing materials. Rubber and plastics from other industries, like the automotive industry, have been reformulated into a rubber slate roofing material, which has the Energy Star approval rating. Roofs have evolved over the years from traditional asphalt roofing to what industry professionals now call cool roofing. Cool roofing options are popular in warmer geographic areas, where sunlight is prevalent. One type of cool roofing is named reflective roofing because the roof is covered in some form of metal to reflect the sun’s rays and decrease heat transferred into buildings. This is especially useful in hot to moderate climates where homeowners have high air-conditioning costs. Some people in moderate climate areas install reflective roofs to avoid having to install an air conditioner altogether. “We have clients, for the first time, who are considering lighter color and reflective roofs when they found out that a light color roof can