Advice provided by: Jodi Selene, LEED AP, Red Oak Realty

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We hear so much about Green, but what constitutes a green building or remodel...? And, perhaps more importantly in this economy, how can it be done affordably?

This is part two of a two part series on affordable green remodeling on a budget, and I'll aim to answer that question while addressing which green products you might consider for your job.

Green Home Products

With so many products now claiming to be "green" it's important to know what is truly sustainable, healthy and what is 'greenwashing.'

Bamboo flooring was the new darling of every remodel that was called, “green” in the last 10 years or so. While bamboo grows very fast and does not need pesticides to grow, the new interest in bamboo has produced a younger, softer wood that is often used to keep up with demand, contradicting the original claim that it’s “as hard as oak.”

Also, most bamboo comes from China. The distance it travels adds to the carbon footprint as a finished product. Consider where your products are coming from, as well as the content and who makes them. While not always avoidable on a budget, try to minimize cheaper products from China or other countries where labor costs don’t represent any liability for environmental issues or less than healthy safety practices.

Refinishing Old Wood

My favorite flooring is refinishing the old wood floors in so many older homes. This is often wood that has been covered up with carpet or just in need of sanding a new coat of low v.o.c. urethane. Another choice is a pre-finished floor without the need for a toxic coat of finish. I bought beautiful Cherry wood flooring on sale from EcoTimber when they moved their Richmond, CA warehouse out of state. The flooring had a ceramic enhanced, UV-cured acrylic urethane with a formaldehyde free adhesive. According to their website, all EcoTimber flooring will qualify for LEED Materials and Resource credit 7(certified wood) and Indoor Environment Quality 4.4 (Low Emitting Materials)

Shop Sales

This brings up another principle of affordable sustainable renovation – shop sales. Anyone can create the Green McMansion on an unlimited budget. The real challenge is to create affordable, healthy living for modest means. In that same remodel, I used Marmoleum at 40% off. It was right at the point when the company had discontinued several colors and slashed prices on their former styles. I also used remnants from a flooring store. These are smaller pieces of Marmoleum that work well for a small bathroom or counter top, but are too small for a larger floor area. Often remnants are discounted to a fraction of the original cost. It pays to shop sales.

Of course, green remodeling can also be using insulation to keep warmer and cooler... Formaldehyde-free insulation by Johns Manville is a great, economical choice that is widely available at lumber and hardware stores, using ENERGY STAR appliances available anywhere appliances are sold, choosing the high efficiency heater over the cheapest brand. All of these choices may cost a little more at the outset, but can save in energy costs over the years of living there.

Some products cannot easily be reclaimed or recycled. The best thing to do with these is to responsibly dispose of them. If your older home has asbestos ducting in the heating system or that 1970’s “popcorn” ceiling with asbestos, call a professional. Do not attempt to remove asbestos by yourself.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was widely used as a fire and heat resistant coating, including asbestos based shingles on the exterior of homes. It was considered one of those miracle finds and protected homes against fire damage. Unfortunately, it also caused lung cancer, asbestosis and other problems. Licensed professionals can rid your property of the asbestos and dispose of the material in a regulated, hazardous waste facility. This, like electrical work, is an area that is not a “do it yourself” project.

Electrical, Plumbing and Roofing – all areas you want licensed professionals who carry liability insurance and have a good rating with the local contractor board.

Ideas for a New Roof

When considering a new roof, why not think outside the box? A conventional composition shingle roof is made of felt, fiberglass and asphalt. It basically has a good amount of petroleum product and lasts around 15 – 20 years. This is the most common roofing material in America. There are also metal, wood, fiber cement and tile roofs, which now all come in choices with some amount of recycled content.

Metal roofs typically last twice as long as composition shingle and are more easily found in reclaimed aluminum. Google recycled roof and companies like Ecostar, Titan and Re-new Wood come up, among others. Or, try a complete green building site like Sustainable Sources or ReGreenProgram.org.

The best thing to do if concerned with “greening” a home is to do plenty of research, buy a good quality mask if re-doing anything on your own, and consult a professional if your older home may contain potentially hazardous asbestos or lead paint.

Hope this helps!

Related Advice:

• Green Remodeling on a Budget: Three Important Things to Consider



• Green Home Products: What Environmentally Friendly Products do You Recommend?