Eco-Friendly Remodeling Made Easy

By Susan Prang
(From the NKBA's Profiles Magazine)

With the green movement in full force, local building codes mandating implementation of green building practices, and designers being asked by their clients to design 'green,' there are easy steps you should take to integrate sustainable practices and materials into your kitchen or bath designs.

Focus on three main categories: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and natural resource conservation. Every project is different-one client may opt to implement only limited green practices into their remodel, while others may choose every green option available-either way, every bit helps our environment!

There are numerous ways to incorporate green design and materials into your kitchen or bath remodel without sacrificing aesthetics. Many countertops and tiles are available that are made with recycled glass that give a high-end look. These can be combined with granite or marble for a client who wants a more traditional or rustic look.

Many tiles are also made from postindustrial and agricultural waste. There are numerous formaldehyde-free and recycled wood products and veneers available for custom cabinet making-many manufactured cabinet lines now offer these options. Fluorescent lighting reduces energy use, no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints create a healthier living space, engineered flooring reduces the consumption of wood, and hardwood flooring certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) ensures that wood is harvested from sustainably managed forests.

In new construction and in some remodeling projects, you can take advantage of the southern exposure of the sun when deciding on window size and placement-most window and door manufacturers now offer many styles of energy-efficient products, some made from FSC wood sources.

Insulation, caulking, weather-stripping, flashing, radiant barriers in your roof or attic space, light colored roofs, properly-sized ventilation systems, hot water on demand systems, and tankless water heaters are just a few ways to create efficient, comfortable living spaces that lower energy bills and save our natural resources.

A home's air may contain excess humidity, dust, mold spores, chemical fumes, radon, and combustion exhaust from sources such as lawnmowers running outside or furnaces running inside. Although most people aren't significantly affected by this indoor air cocktail, the long-term effects are still being evaluated. As anyone with asthma or other respiratory problems can tell you, poor air quality can become a serious matter. Here are a few steps you can take to incorporate green practices into your designs:

• HVAC systems should be properly sized.
• Use humidity control to prevent the indoor growth of mold, mildew, viruses, and dust mites.
• Install 100 percent wool carpet vs. carpets with synthetic fibers.
• Use chemical-free, no-VOC glues and adhesives.
• Use low or no-VOC paints. For people who are particularly sensitive or have strong concerns about air quality, most major manufacturers now offer special no-VOC paints that are odorless and completely VOC-free.
• Use wood products from sustainable sources. The FSC label enables you to choose forest products with the confidence that they're not contributing to the destruction of the world's forests. By buying from certified sources, you're providing an incentive for responsible forest management.
• Reuse the graywater a home produces from the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, utility sinks, dishwasher, washer, and shower.

Susan Prang is an NKBA member, certified green designer, and licensed general contractor with Creative Eye Studio in Roseville, California, which hosts sustainability workshops. Susan can be reached at (916) 458-0831 or at . For more information, visit www.creative-eye-studio.com.