Build Better, Not Bigger in your next green home project

For most of the 2000's we saw people building and purchasing more home than they needed. Living in excess has long been an American tradition, but with the recent recession and housing slump we have seen a trend in the way some Americans are choosing to live their lives.

New homes had doubled in size since 1960, but in 2008 we saw the average size home slide from 2,629 sq ft to 2,343 which is the first time in over a decade that we saw a decline.

Homeowners could be choosing to live smaller because they no longer feel like keeping up with Jones since the Jones' home went into foreclosure, or they want smaller utility bills, or because home loans are more scarce then the days of sub-prime loans. Whatever the reason, I am anxious to see if this is a fad or a trend that we will continue to see increase.

If you are of the ilk that prefers to live a more modest lifestyle and are looking for ways to make your home more efficient, there are many options suitable for a various style of homes. Your home remodeler or designer should be a great source of knowledge of your choices that are available for your specific home. However, there are many good sources of inspiration that you can research prior to contacting your home remodeler.

A book I recommed is Not So Big Remodeling by Sarah Susanka. It is a great source of information on how to make your home more comfortable, functional and sustainable. Here are a few remodeling tips from Sarah:

1. Set priorities. Of three factors -- quality, quantity and cost -- determine which two are the most important and let the other "float."
2. Examine your space. Look at what can be done within the existing footprint. List activities to be accommodated, recognizing that a place is needed but not necessarily an entire room.
3. Study storage. A little well-designed storage in the right place can replace a lot of poorly designed storage, opening up floor space in areas that are currently too small to function properly.
4. Bump out a little. Adding just a few feet to a space can contain costs and maintain a house’s scale.
5. Add on with grace. If none of the above strategies meet your needs, and the budget allows, a small addition may be the best option. Consider what each exterior face of the house will look like.

If you are looking to remodel your home, pick up her book and see how you incorporate more of her tips into your next project.

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Quick & easy fixes for going green in your home

Over the past few years, the advances in products for your home have been signicant. Many of these new products are aimed to make your home more efficient so you make a lesser impact on the enviroment while saving money.

One of our biggest expenses as homeowner is water our water bill. Everyday in the United States we use 300 Billion gallons of water. Luckily there are quick and easy fixes you can make to reduce the amount of water you use in your house:

Shower Heads: In the U.S., showers account for 18% of indoor water usage and 39% of hot water usage. A family of four showering only five minutes a day uses 700 gallons of water a week. By installing a high performance showerhead, which uses about 1-½ gallons per minute, you can save 60% versus a non-water saving head. With a small investment, high performance showerheads offer a high return on your investment.

Toilets: Older toilets use 4-7 gallons every time you flush. The newer toilets, specifically dual flush toilets use only 1-2 gallons per flush. If you do the math on that you can see you will see financial benefits immediatley on your next water bill. It is true that dual flush toilets are more expensive than standard toilets, however it will not take long to get your money back on your water bill savings. If you do not want to take the plunge in spending the money upfront, there some dual-flush kits that are availble that will retrofit your existing toilet into a dual flush toilet that is considerablly more afforable (about $25 per kit) and relatively easy to install.

Faucets: Do you have that drip, drip, drip sound in your house that is driving you crazy? Not only is a leaky faucet annoying, it also can drain your pocketbook. A leaking faucet can use about 15-20 gallons a day. If you can't repair an old faucet, then you can purchase a new one at afforabble prices.



Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Savings for building green!

Are you looking at building a home or remodeling an existing home? If so, you might be taking a "green" approach to your project. One of the major reasons people seek to make their home more eco-friendly is because of the financial savings it will provide them.

As a remodeling professional, many people often ask me what savings they can achieve for the improvements they make in their home. There saving for Federal and State programs. There are a couple of a wonderful websites with a database of incentives & policies for renewables & efficiency based on Federal and state guidlines.

Feel free to visit the websites listed below to see what savings you can take advantage of in your state:
http://www.dsireusa.org/

Federal incentices and policies:
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Green Remodeling and product certification

A question a lot of people have that are thinking about taking a Green approach to their remodeling or building project is, "How do I know if a product is really green?"

Luckily there are a number of independent certification programs that are related to the green building industry.

Here are some of the most recognized programs:

Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label:
A testing and labeling program for low emitting carpet, underlayment, adhesives and vacuum cleaners
http://www.carpet-rug.org/index.cfm

Energy Star:

a labeling program for enegry efficient homes, building products and appliance
http://www.energystar.gov/

Forest Stewardship Council:
a certification program for wood products that come from forests that are managed in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable way.
http://www.fscus.org/

Greenguard:
an independent testing and labeling program for low emitting furniture and finish materials

Greenseal:
A life cycle's assesment based labeling program for building products and green operations and maintenance procedures
http://www.greenseal.org/

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED):
A certification program for buildings that achieve performance targets in the five green building categories
http://www.usgbc.org/

Scientific Certification Systems:
Independentlyu certifies that products meet the EPA's environmentally preferable standards for federal government purchases;also certifies manufacturers specific claims on product content and emissions levels
http://www.scscertified.com/

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX
www.puttingonthefix.com

Home Remodeling 2009 Cost vs Value Report

Home owners choose to remodel their home for numerous reasons. Whether that reason be to make their home more energy efficient, make their home more appealing to buyers if they have their home on the market to sell, to update and outdated room, to create more living space for that beloved mother-in-law who is moving in with you, or for many other reasons.

Whatever the reason for the remodel, home owners always like to get the most bang for their buck. Even if it is home that they plan to never leave and the remodel project is just to meet their specific needs, building home equity is a goal everyone likes to achieve as for most people their home is their biggest investment.

Getting the most value for your remodel project varies from year to year, with the status of the housing market largely being the main conrtributing factor. The top valued projects in 2009 in a year of a volatile and downtrending housing market vary from the top valued projects in 2005 where the housing market was at a peak. You can go to the following link to see the latest report on the home remodeling project cost vs value report:

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/division/west-south-central.aspx

Brian Heltzel
Putting On The Fix Remodeling
Burleson, TX