green remodeling

Green Homes Not Welcome Here

jchait — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:00:00 -0400

The Daily Green had a very interesting post up recently related to one couple who built green. They picked a lovely modular home by architect Michelle Kaufmann (who I'm a huge fan of by the way), and did everything right, but people got a little upset with them.

The locals objected to the style of the home. According to Daily Green, some went so far to call it "Trailer like" which frankly should be punishable by law, because none of Kaufmann's designs are trailer like. But I digress. A petition was started against the home, but in the end the home won out, due to a vote by a local board. You can read the whole story at the Daily Green.

The Daily Green calls stuff like this "Greenfear" which may be appropriate. Just trying to install a composting toilet at our passive solar house I built with my partner was a total nightmare - lots of opposition. The Daily Green also points out that people never come down on the lame old McMansions like this - which is also one of my major pet peeves. McMansions bring nothing but a big fat carbon footprint to the table, yet it's rare that full on revolts are planned against them.

So, say that you'd like to build green. Say that the neighbors object. What can you do?

Some opposition to green homes say that they'll bring property values down. In truth, green homes and green home upgrades can improve resale of a single home, but no one is really sure of the neighborhood value associations. There's not enough data yet - if you search around most research about green homes will say just that. Point being - arguing property values may not work in your favor.

If it's your immediate neighbors who object, try sitting down and talking to them. It could be that all it takes is a reduced six home, or a fence to make them happy - really, there have been cases like this in the news.

Another thing you can do is go over the positives with the neighbors. A HUGE selling point of many green homes, especially if you go modular, is time investments. Green homes (true green) tend to be smaller than conventional homes, thus saving construction time, often by half, which neighbors should be thrilled with.

Build rural or at least not in a style established neighborhoods and historic districts. It's a pain, yeah, but it's also the truth that you can face more opposition in areas like these. While I know, and you know, that green building should be the norm, not the exception, you honestly might not get your green home built, or even be allowed to install energy efficient windows if you live in a place that decides green is undesirable. Check out the neighborhood association before buying land or a house that you assume you'll be doing green upgrades on.

Hiring an established green designer, architect and construction team can work in your favor, as opposed to self building.

Make sure you follow all the building rules laid out by your city and county. Some areas have very specific rules regarding what you can and can't do with regards to green building.

Hook up with organizations who can offer you suggestions and support.

Keep talking about green building. This is a really frustrating topic, because of course we shouldn't even have to ask if we want solar panels, or wind generated power. Building green should be seen as an advantage, not a problem to the "look" or economy of a neighborhood. The only way to make change is to keep on talking about green building to everyone you know. Discuss the cost advantages over time, selling points, and other earth-based perks gained by green building.

[House photo: Sunset Breezehouse by Michelle Kaufmann] - I.E. NOT a trailer (some people, I swear).

Remodeling Your Home Green

jchait — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:00:00 -0400

Building your own green home is awesome. However, some of us like our house just fine already; we don’t want to build a new home, we just wish our current home could be a little more green. Here are some ideas for remodeling green:

Make a flexible wish list: If you’ve been considering green building or remodeling, than it’s likely you have some wish list ideas. It’s a good idea to keep your list flexible though. Until you speak with your remodeling team, it’s tough to know which eco-techniques will work in your existing home.

Questions you may want to explore include:

Which green home options have we seen in action that we think might work well in our home?
How do we want our home to make us feel when we walk through the door – energized, relaxed, both?
Which green home options will give our home the most bang for our bucks – are there options with a better return value? A quicker return value?
How will making these changes affect our current lifestyle?
How involved am I willing to be in the running of my home – for example can I learn to check and change batteries for solar power? Do I want to?
How do we currently use our home? Which spaces are the most occupied on a daily basis – which are the least occupied?
What do we have that is worth keeping (like large windows that allow natural light), and what do we think needs changed (like better insulation, less toxic carpet).
And of course - how much am I willing to spend? OR how much can I spend? Having a general idea of your budget can be useful when you start talking with your remodel team.

These are just a few questions to consider. The design process when remodeling takes a while. To jump start, you may want to talk to a company that specializes in green design and or green re-design. This can help give you an idea of options, costs, and time commitments.

Basics of Green Roofs for Residential - Green Roof Home Companies

jchait — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Yesterday we looked at green roofs for residential homes. Or I should say we started looking. We covered a DIY options and some green roof benefits. If you missed it, you can catch up by reading, The Basics of Green Roofs for Residential - Green Roof Homes.

Today let's look at some companies who cater to green residential roofing applications. If you aren't a professional builder, yet would love a green roof, it might be a better option to go with a professional design team. There are some important reasons for this:

Layout and design. Creating a green roof, is like placing a professional garden, or other landscaping, there are design aspects to consider - which plants go with which, how plants will hold up in your climate, and the general completed look. If you're not knowledgeable about landscape design it can be tricky to create a green roof.

Safety and liability. Do you know what will happen if you fall off your roof? Besides being hurt, you'll be paying for the whole accident. I've placed roofing and it's not easy. If you don't have a perfectly flat roof you could be in for some issues.

Costs can be higher if you do it yourself. You'll need to pay for scaffolding, the plants, materials, you'll lose time doing whatever it is you do normally, and it all can add up. It might be more cost efficient to go with a team who is quick and efficient for a set fee.

Upkeep: A professional team will help you to get the most out of your roof by informing you about proper upkeep. They can offer tips that you may not be able to learn on your own.

Where to find a company:

Often contractors with a background in green building can help you find a good local green roof company, or even set it up themselves. If you're already rebuilding or building new, working with your original design team may be an option.

Other green roof companies around the US include:

LiveRoof
Living Roofs
Hydrotech, Inc. - Hydrotech is a cool company, I've talked with them for another blog I write and they are nothing if not nice and helpful.
You can always check with Greenroofs.com
The mother load of green roof links - seriously, a great list.

You might also like reading, Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide.