In renovating a Decatur home, green building consultant Carl Seville removed the enclosed porch that served as the kitchen, renovated the kitchen and bathroom, and added a new office, screened porch and exterior storage room. He reused the siding and trim, refurbished existing windows and floors, and invested in a high performance HVAC system and tankless gas water heater.
After the renovations, the home, built in 1925, still is only 800 square feet.
The home won the 2014 EarthCraft House Renovation of the Year award for improving the function of existing spaces, correcting structural and maintenance issues, and making it more visually appealing. The changes resulted in a 75 percent increase in energy efficiency, according to a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) test.
If you're building or renovating a home in 2015, having an eco-friendly approach could be appealing because of the potential to save energy, water and money. Seville, who chaired the committee that created the Atlanta-based EarthCraft House Renovation program and now owns SK Collaborative (skcollaborative.com), offered tips for homeowners.
Q: Is it getting easier to build green homes?
A: Yes and no. The problem is there are very few people — architects, designers and contractors — at least in Atlanta, who really understand it. It doesn't have to cost more, but it tends to cost a little more now because we're struggling with a low level of work in a high-performance building. Construction is generally fine; the finishes are generally fine. Most people don't pay attention to the stuff behind the walls. It tends to not be done very well. It takes some time to make sure things — the quality of insulation, the air sealing — are done right. Atlanta was ahead of the curve a while ago. The recession put it in the tank. We have a long way to go.
Q: What are some key elements of your EarthCraft-winning renovation?
A: It's small. It's 800 square feet. I added a big screened porch on the west side, for outdoor living space and to shade the windows (with a large overhang). I replaced part of the kitchen because it was a disaster.
Q: How should homeowners begin?
A: If somebody wants to do a high-performing house, someone should engage an EarthCraft technical adviser (EarthCraft.org), a HERS rater (resnet.us), a BPI (Building Performance Institute) analyst (BPI.org), somebody who understands how buildings work from energy science. Bring them in the beginning, before design starts.
Q: What questions should people ask before starting to work with someone on a project?
A: Have they done any projects that have been certified under a green building program? Check the references of people they have worked for.
Q: What’s your best tip?
A: Avoid toxic products and make the right decisions throughout the process. High-performance building has virtually nothing to do with the materials, with the exception of dangerous products or toxic products. It's all about the process, doing things in the right order. You can't stick crappy insulation in and hope the house will perform well.
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