Green Remodeling and Home Building (continued)

What makes a product green? Global Green has broken them down to 5 basic categories:

Save Energy

* Products that either reduce heating and cooling loads, such as building orientation, high-quality windows, and insulation.
* Products that use less energy, such as Energy Star-rated appliances, efficient heating and cooling systems and florescent lamps.
* Products that produce energy, such as solar electricity generation systems.

Conserve Water

* Products that conserve water above and beyond what is required by law, such as dual-flush toilets and under-sink flow restrictors
* Products that consume less water, such as native landscaping and drought-tolerant plantings.

Contribute to a Safe, Healthy Indoor Environment


* Products that don’t release significant pollutants into the building, such as no-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free cabinets, and non-toxic caulks, sealers and adhesives, CRI Green Label carpets and pads.
* Products that block the spread of or remove indoor pollutants, such as duct mastic, effective ventilation equipment, and air and water filters.
* Products that warn occupants of health hazards, such as Carbon Monoxide detectors and humidity sensors.

Protect Natural Resources

* Products with recycled content, such as carpet, tile, wallboard, and wood replacements made from polystyrene.
* Products made from agricultural waste material, such as wheat straw, sunflower stalks, and rice hulls.
* Products that reduce material use, such as drywall clips and concrete pigments that turn concrete slabs into finished floors.
* Products made from rapidly renewable materials, such as bamboo flooring, natural linoleum, cork and textiles made from wool, sisal, hemp and organic cotton. Wood products from sustainably managed forests, certified according to the principles of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Salvaged products, such as bricks, lumber and plumbing fixtures.

Reduce Buildings’ Impact on the Community

* Products that mitigate the effects of stormwater runoff, such as permeable pavers, green roofs and cisterns.
* Products that provide easy access to alternative modes of transportation such as bike racks and storage units.
* Products that do not require chemical pesticides or treatment, such as plastic lumber, physical termite barriers and native vegetation.
* Products that contain no dioxin-producing polyvinylchoride (PVC) or ozone-depleting HCFCs.

Remodeling Green offers every homeowner the opportunity to reduce home energy demands, lessen home maintenance costs, and increase comfort and home value. And now with more and more green products becoming available to consumers, making the Green choice does not have to come at a steep price!

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX