Remodeling
Success 101

Q: What is LEED?

A: LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a set of standards initiated by the U.S. Green Building Council for building design, construction, and operation. It only recently extended to include homes, and there are no standards (yet) for remodeling. LEED is just one of several green building programs around the country managed by building professionals, independent groups, or regulatory agencies.

There's no doubt any more: "Green building" has evolved from a cottage industry to the mainstream of consumer consciousness. Driven by sky-rocketing energy prices, concerns about global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, and the desire to make a positive difference, homeowners are searching for ways to shrink the environmental impact of their homes.

Remodeling an existing home, rather than building a new one, is the 'greenest' decision a homeowner can make. Open land is preserved and the energy required to make the materials for a new house (concrete, lumber, metals, plastics) is saved. Additionally, making an existing home more "green" has been made easier than ever before. There has been a proliferation of products, systems, and materials designed to reduce energy and resource consumption. These solutions help lower utility bills, improve indoor comfort and air quality, and control and mitigate unwanted air and moisture intrusion. Such products reuse materials rather than extract virgin resources. In addition, remodeling green can now earn homeowners a federal tax credit. Consider the following ways a home remodeling project can reduce a home's environmental footprint:

• Insulation. Installing or upgrading insulation in the walls, floors, and ceiling/attic, with special attention to the myriad openings in the house (e.g., electrical outlets) helps block thermal transfer through the home's structure. According to the Dow Corporation, the combined open space in the average home created by gaps, cracks and holes is the equivalent of a four by four foot open window. Properly installed insulation and the skillful use of caulk and expanding foam makes a more comfortable indoor climate that requires less energy to maintain.
  
  A remodeling project could also include insulation for ductwork to block heat loss, allowing the heating and cooling equipment to operate more efficiently. Many new insulation products include recycled content, such as denim, to make them even more eco-friendly.

• Windows. High-performance insulated windows and glass doors that block hot or cold air and the sun's ultraviolet rays not only reduce home energy consumption, but also create a more comfortable living environment.

• Resource-saving fixtures. Appliances rated by the federal Energy Star program for their energy efficiency -- from laundry equipment to refrigerators and furnaces -- are designed to work better and last longer with less energy use. Water heaters are more energy efficient. Tankless versions conserve water, too. Low-flow toilets, front-loading clothes washers, and most faucets are designed to reduce water use without sacrificing performance or reliability.

• Lighting. Upgraded, Energy Star-rated light fixtures equipped with compact fluorescent bulbs serve both task and general lighting needs at a fraction of the energy use required by traditional incandescent bulbs.

• Non-toxic finishes. Paints and coatings made without volatile organic compounds (VOCs) offer comparable performance without the toxic off-gassing and odor of conventional finishes, thus improving indoor air quality.

As products develop and homeowners become more aware of environmental issues, professional remodelers must balance green building with the inherent differences in home remodeling versus new construction. A remodeler may be asked to make an entire existing house more green. More often, a remodeler will take a room-by-room approach to green that better serves needs, budgets, and sensitivities of a homeowner client.

With more than 120 million existing homes in the U.S., there's no doubt that green remodeling is the wave of the future. It's a trend that a growing number of professional remodelers are equipped to take advantage of. All will benefit: Remodelers, homeowners and the environment.

Warm regards,

info@highcraft.net
www.highcraft.net

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