Green Remodeling:
What it is and why it matters
There's been a lot of talk in the media recently about "green" or sustainable building and remodeling. While we applaud and welcome the attention being generated about this important issue, we take it with a grain of salt because green building is a far more complex issue than usually portrayed.
Unlike new construction, green remodeling must take into account a home's existing design in order to achieve the highest levels of energy and resource efficiency possible. Because of the combination of old and new, it is often impossible to deliver the full scope of environmental benefits that a newly built house provides. Still, green remodeling can have positive environmental benefits.
Our philosophy is to select the best-performing products, materials, and systems available and then pay close attention to their respective and cumulative "green" aspects or benefits for each unique project. In this way, we can achieve the lightest or smallest environmental footprint possible.
It is true that all homes, remodeled or new, leave an environmental "footprint." The materials we specify for a remodeling project use natural resources, such as trees and metal ores, even oil. The important goals of green building and remodeling are to reduce the amount of natural resources required for the project, and then to lessen the amount of energy used by the house. Energy efficiency over the life of the house will further reduce the resources needed to produce electricity and natural gas.
Our first goal, of course, is to deliver the job you've hired us to do. To that end, we do not stray from the original scope of the project or compromise the quality you expect from us. For instance, if we're building a second story addition, we will likely suggest long-span engineered lumber (harvested from fast-growing trees, a renewable resource) for the structural framing. We may also suggest insulated windows and energy-efficient lighting to reduce energy use, and/or recycled-content, low-VOC-emitting finishes (such as flooring, paints, and siding) to conserve natural resources and promote good indoor air quality in the new space. Healthy indoor air is a major benefit of green building.
Every home and situation is different. Consider an existing heating and cooling system. Unless it is woefully out of date or simply lacks the capacity to adequately serve the project, it may make more sense to work with the existing system to heat, cool, and ventilate a room addition. The same philosophy applies to kitchen appliances, bath and other plumbing fixtures, as well as the roof and exterior siding. A decision to upgrade those products, materials, or systems with "greener" alternatives can be included in the initial scope of work or upgraded at a later date.
We never lose sight of our primary job: to remodel your house to your expectations. As we further refine and define green remodeling, and as more products, materials, and systems are developed to meet that definition, we'll be at the forefront to incorporate those solutions and ideas into your home remodeling project.
Warm regards,
