When it's time for your next home renovation, why not make it an eco-friendly overhaul? It's not as hard as you might think, according to Jeff Dinkle, president of Eco Custom Homes, an Atlanta-based company that renovates or builds "net zero" homes.
Dinkle said sustainability trends are the same around the country. The difference in Atlanta, he said, is that many projects are large and involve doubling the size of an older home and a gut of an existing home.
He encourages folks to be interested in what they bring into their homes no matter the size of the renovation, because most people spend close to half of their lives inside their house.
Dinkle advices homeowners to first think green on the walls. He suggests using low or no VOC paints inside the home. VOC stands for volatile organic compound, and are solvents that are released into the air as paint dries.
Second, Dinkle says to consider the furniture you are buying.
Mass-produced furniture from other countries could contain toxic chemicals in the finish.
Dinkle prefers buying "from a local craftsman who uses reclaimed wood and natural oils as finishes."
In many interior home renovations, the kitchen and bathrooms are a big part of the project. There is much that can be done in these rooms with a sustainable eye.
"Using a birch-based plywood with sturdy door hinges or glides will last longer than a cabinet made from press board with cheap glides," Dinkle said. "A quartz composite counter is an extremely durable surface that has little or no maintenance and should last a lifetime."
Also with an eye toward the kitchen and bathroom, think about utility consumption. Dinkle suggests when you change out a faucet or toilet make sure you buy an EPA WaterSense-certified products, which use a lower amount of water. He also recommends Energy Star-certified appliances and light fixtures for all the rooms.
Windows are also a good place to improve energy efficiency. Dinkle points out that, in Georgia, the low energy prices mean most people don't focus on insulation or quality of windows. He cautions against that kind of short-term thinking.
"At some point we will not be in the lower tier of energy costs versus the rest of the nation," he said.
After the interior has been given a sustainable overhaul, the exterior can use a few eco-friendly fixes. Begin with the cooling and heating system.
"One interesting thing about Atlanta that most people don't know is that we have more heating degree days than cooling degree days," Dinkle says. "We need more heat than AC in a given year."
It's better to spend the money on a furnace upgrade than an air conditioner upgrade, he said.
Dinkle also suggests that homeowners increase roof overhangs and make sure to have the proper size gutters to lead water away from the home.
"Clean your gutters twice a year and make sure all down spouts are piped at least 5-feet away from your home," he said. "The number one thing people can do for having a more sustainable home, surprisingly, is maintain their gutter systems."
Properly maintained gutters, Dinkle said, are crucial for preventing siding trouble and rot in a home. Keeping your house sustainable means not having to replace parts ruined by rain damage.
Before you decide to make those eco-friendly fixes to your home do your research, Dinkle said.
"Just because it says 'green' doesn't mean that it is, and green does not usually cost more," Dinkle said.
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