The Top 10 List
of Green Makeover Home Features.
Here's a "short list" of the key green features that, in our opinions,
have the biggest impact on the Green Makeover Home.
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1. Remodel vs. New
Construction. We took an existing home and upgraded it to
green, saving considerably on new materials, foundation and much of the structure of the house.
2. Deconstruction vs.
Demolition. We carefully disassembled the house, keeping
all the interior trim, doors, cabinets, stairs, and 2x4 studs for
reuse in the remodel project. Reclaimed plumbing fixtures,
windows, and lighting were all donated to Habitat for Humanity,
while the exterior siding and fireplaces were donated to other
projects. Deconstruction saved material resources and
prevented a lot of unnecessary waste.
3. Spray Foam Insulation.
Number one in energy efficiency is reducing the demand for
energy. In sealing up a home, both insulation (R-value) and
infiltration (air leakage) are important. Spray foam
insulation in the sealed and conditioned attic and in areas where
traditional fiberglass batt insulation cannot be effectively
deployed both insulates and provides an excellent infiltration
barrier.
www.foamworxinsulators.com
4. Energy Efficient Windows.
Highly energy efficient casement window and patio doors improve the
thermal envelope performance of the house reducing energy load.
Casement windows seal better than double hung windows further
improving air infiltration performance.
www.jeldwen.com and
www.restorationwoodworks.com
5.
Reclaimed Materials.
Stained glass windows used for
interior day lighting, light fixtures, cabinets and other finish
materials all contribute to less waste.
6. Efficient Heating and Cooling
System. Variable speed, dual stage air handlers reduce
start-up load and reduce energy consumption. 95% AFUE furnaces
and 16 SEER air conditioning enhance overall efficiencies. Whole house media
filters and fresh air sources lend to better equipment performance
and improved air quality inside the home. www.ars.com
and www.aprilair.com
7. Healthy Finishes. No
formaldehyde carpets and Low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints,
adhesives and flooring help improve the air quality inside the
tightly built home for the homeowner, protects the health of the
workers during construction, and at the same time reduces the
construction project's impact on the ozone layer in our atmosphere.
8. Rainwater Collection. A
1,700 gallon
cistern holds 80% of the rain water runoff from the roofs. Collected
water is
redistributed for landscape watering in a controlled fashion as
opposed to contributing to rainwater runoff.
www.rainwatersolutions.com
9. Gray Water Reuse.
Entire house is plumbed for gray water recovery. Gray water is
collected, treated, and redistributed for toilet flushing.
This system uses incoming water twice before returning it to the
city water processing facility and is the 2nd gray water system of
its type in Durham.
www.smartwaterconcepts.com and
www.bracsystems.com
10. Energy Efficient Lighting.
Fluorescent lighting is used in almost every instance throughout house.
Fluorescent lights consume about 25% of the electricity that standard incandescent bulbs
require and emit less heat back into the
house.
See The Long
List of Features>>
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