What To Do When Going Green

We celebrated Earth day this week...and many of us are looking to go green. While green building and remodeling is a big trend right now, many homeowners still think making their homes more eco-friendly will be expensive and difficult. The good news from Turn to 2 and Angie's List - going green doesn't have to break the bank.

"green building is all the buzz these days."

From recycling to energy conservation, Angie Hicks says it seems everyone is trying to go green in their own way. According to Angie's List members, 42-percent of them have incorporated green building into their home, either to save money or to protect the environment.

"they can be doing small things around their house whether it be changing out appliances to make them more energy efficient, all the way up to a green remodel."

Experts say going green can add up to 5 percent to the cost of your project, the payoff is worth it. Green remodeling can lead to energy savings, possible tax credits, and a healthier environment. Finding a green contractor requires the same attention and research in detail as hiring any other professional for your home.

"based on the demand from our members, angie's list is actually going to start placing leed certification icons on the profiles of companies that have that certification so it makes it really easy for members to find companies that can help them with green building."

LEED stands for leadership in energy and environmental design. The United States Green Building Council created LEED as a rating system for green building. Projects must meet certain prerequisites and performance benchmarks. All something that should help you save money in the long run.

"it really depends on your interests. if you're going to be doing a remodel job, you might be paying about five percent more on the job up front, but think about the fact that you'll be saving on your energy bills down the road and you'll recoup that cost."

Here are some other tips to help you in your quest to protect the environment on a daily basis:

1. Determine the energy efficiency of your home with an audit. An audit can help you assess how much energy your home uses and evaluate what measures you can take to improve efficiency. Contact your utility company to see if they offer free or discounted home energy audits.

2. Use compact florescent light bulbs. Energy Star lighting uses about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. You can save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulbs' lifetime, and they produce about 75 percent less heat.

3. Install low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets. Low-flow faucets reduce water consumption and the cost of heating water by as much as 50 percent.

4. Update your water heater. Water heating can account for 14 percent to 25 percent of the energy consumed in your home. A tankless water heater provides hot water only as it is needed. A solar water heater can be used in any climate.

5. Energy Star Appliances: If your appliances are more than 10 years old, you can most likely reduce your utility bills by replacing these appliances with high-efficiency models.Cut energy consumed by your appliances by buying Energy Star models (www.energystar.gov ). They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. Also, size your appliances to your needs. Dishwashers and refrigerators work more efficiently when they are full. If your appliances are usually only half full, consider smaller models.

6. Buy water-based paints with low or no volatile organic compound levels (VOC). Basically, the less glossy the paint, the fewer VOC's it contains. VOC's are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids and include a variety of chemicals; some of which may have short and long term health affects.

7. Choose flooring products made from rapidly renewable resources such as bamboo. Bamboo is a grass, requiring no replanting and little fertilization or pesticides; an attractive building material because it's strong and stable.

8. Select carpeting, rugs, window treatments and other textiles made from natural fibers such as cotton and wool. They are untreated and free of toxins, such as pesticides or chemical cleaners.
For furniture or cabinetry, choose solids woods rather than pressed woods or composites that may contain formaldehyde or other chemicals that may be toxic and hazardous to your health