Top Seven Things To Do In a Green Remodel

• Recycle the Construction and Demolition Scrap.

There are many places that will accept the construction and demolition debris from your house. In fact, with the exception of asphalt shingles and painted wood, just about everything else can be recycled. This includes the recycling of the water bottles from the construction crew to the cardboard used to package the appliances

Test your existing house to see where the energy is escaping from

When looking at remodeling a home, there may be cost effective ways to fix existing problems with the house. There are companies who specialize in home assessments and the costs are usually $400 to $600. Having a home assessment done will show you what existing insulation problems you may have. If you have an infrared scan done, you will be able to see where the cold air is coming into the house. Remodeling your home start thinking of recycling.

• Invest in Good Windows

Good windows pay for themselves very quickly. The average insulation value in a wall is R-19, windows provide an insulation value of about R-4. Complete window replacement is usually fairly expensive, so investing in good windows is a good long term practice. Remodeling your home pays for using good windows.

• Seal the House

If you have had a home assessment done, you will know where most of the air leaks are. You can eliminate many of these leaks with nothing more expensive than a tube of caulk. Remodeling green does not need to cost more.

• Use A Good Shingle

At this time in Minnesota shingles are not recyclable. They end up in a landfill. Using a good 40 or 50 year shingle will keep the shingles out of the landfill. It is also cost effective because the added cost of the shingles is a small fraction compared to having to completely replace the roof. A good shingle will last almost twice as long as a standard shingle. Remodeling your home using good shingles.

• Install an Efficient Furnace

The most efficient furnaces will help convert as much fuel as possible into heat for your house. A good furnace will last 15 to 20 years. The cost savings over the years will add up to money in your pocket. Remodeling your home thinking energy efficient.

• Use Locally Sourced Materials

The embodied energy in transporting building materials around the world is enormous. Using materials produced in Minnesota and the five state area will make a big impact on the total energy used in your project. If you can use locally sourced materials as much as possible, you can feel better about purchasing those one or two things that you fall in love with that cannot be locally sourced. Remodeling your home using materials grow locally.