Does Green Remodeling Makes Sense?

Some of us might still remember the '70s version of the green movement. Fueled by an oil embargo, causing a moratorium on natural gas in new housing developments, builders were being forced to examine the meaning of energy efficient housing, many for the first time. I remember watching dome homes, hexagonal and berm homes rising up.  As homeowners struggled to lower utility bills, solar panels and metal pods sprouting from windows became more common. It was during this time spray foam insulation began being used in residential interior and exterior walls. Although this era passed rather quickly, it did forever change the way builders looked at a home’s thermal envelope.
Today’s green movement seems to have sprung more from resource conservation than energy conservation, appearing more sustainable than the 70’s cousin. Today, sustainable design looks more like the house next door than a science experiment gone wrong. Remodelers and the construction industry, as a whole, have become both target and coordinator to meet homeowners' increasing demands for green products and craftsmanship without breaking the budget. 

So How Big is Green Remodeling?

According to a NAHB Remodelers survey:

• 87% of remodelers already incorporate low-emissivity windows into their projects, 70% upgrade existing insulation and 60% install argon gas windows

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•  Over 80% of remodelers use alternatives to dimension lumber to minimize the amount of lumber taken from old-growth forests, such as recycling from previous structures and using engineered lumber

 

• 91% of remodelers use energy efficient windows and 86% install Energy Star® rated appliances.

• 70% of remodelers already incorporate recycled or recyclable materials into their projects.

•   72% of consumers report energy efficient features in a home would influence their purchase decision.

• 61% of consumers would spend more than $5,000 upfront to save on utility costs.

• The U.S. has about 125 million single family homes with the majority built before energy efficiency developments, suggesting a huge market for green remodeling

  

Why Remodelers?

Remodeling a home is the perfect opportunity to incorporate sustainable systems and practices. When working with an existing building, it typically takes fewer resources to make a home more environmentally friendly. Sustainability at its best, capitalizes on the energy and materials that have already been invested into making your house a home.

A holistic approach to green remodeling encompasses indoor air quality, energy conservation, resource conservation, reduced material waste, and the use of products that are best for the environment. Remodeling does not always involve the entire home, with green design, it is easy to pick and choose elements that fit each particular situation and homeowner.

We, as remodeling contractors tend to resist change. A good remodeler wants the best for their clients, during the remodeling process and for years to come. Taking chances on new technologies can carry considerable risk. Remodelers cannot afford to remain on the sidelines much longer; the sustainability movement has gained momentum.
Green remodeling, in its purest form, is about craftsmanship and sustainable building systems. That is where we, the remodeling industry can set ourselves apart