If you read my first article, you will recall my self-assigned designation of “CSE”; Common Sense Environmentalist. I proposed that you do not have to be a “left-wing wacko tree hugger” to have a heart for the environment, care about and promote buildings that are safe, healthy and sustainable, protect our natural resources, have clean water to drink, and preserve our world for future generations. In this article, I will share with you how my wife and I applied CSE to remodeling our Georgia home.

Let me start with a bit of honesty; my wife had little interest in the sustainable components of remodeling. For her it was all about design, fashion, and personal taste. That is “OK”. I too wanted our home to look great, and it lets me relate how we balanced her visual goals of remodeling with my desire to minimize impact on the environment. Folks, it is all about “balance”; for a married guy that is simply “Happy Wife = Happy Life”. However I did make her happy and still achieved most of my green remodeling goals.

Let’s start with the roof. I knew the roof needed work, and was resisting the cost of a new roof, when Mother Nature intervened with a horrendous hail storm that severely damaged our roof (and every other roof on the block). So, with the assistance of State Farm, the roof replacement moved up in priority. My wife wanted an architectural, dark shingle. I agreed and also wanted one that resisted the growth of mold, and had sustainable attributes. I interviewed several roofers and selected one whose presentation material included a “green” story. This particular roofer was aligned with a national manufacturer who offered a 30-year warranty on roofing that was high in recycled content. The product is manufactured to include a significant percentage of slag, stone granules, corrugated mixed paper and sludge. The use of these materials reduces landfill waste and reduces greenhouse gases emitted during manufacturing vs. using virgin materials. My wife picked the shingles she liked, I had comfort in the sustainable nature of the product, and the roof looks great.

The next big job was the kitchen. We had to completely gut the existing kitchen. As you know, I joined Green Builder Media after retiring from Whirlpool Corporation. I was still with Whirlpool at the time we remodeled the kitchen. So, needless to say, I secured a really good deal on appliances. I personally always favored the Whirlpool manufactured KitchenAid brand. My wife did as well, so choices were easy. We chose an E-Star refrigerator (in fact, a model that exceeded E-Star requirement; uses about the same energy as a 60 watt light bulb), an E-Star dishwasher (latest E-Star criteria measures both energy and water use), and installed a convection wall oven. Convection cooking reduces time and temperature, so inherently uses less energy than a standard oven. An added note: We did not remodel our laundry room, but did install a Whirlpool DUET washer and dryer; energy and water consumption exceed even the toughest green home building programs and they are top-rated on the energystar.gov web site.

The next big hurdle was cabinets. My wife had very specific ideas about how she wanted the cabinets to look. She picked what she wanted. What she still doesn’t realize is the cabinet finishes were Low-VOC and came from a manufacture who promotes their environmental management systems in manufacturing (you can learn a lot on the Internet).

The last major selection was counter-tops. I admit I lost on this one. I proposed manufactured counter-tops (many made from recycled materials). She wanted granite; we have granite. Remember what I said about “Happy Life”! Guys, you just can’t win them all.

I can go on in great detail, but to spare you reading for too long, I will synopsize the remaining “stuff” we did:

• Replaced the HVAC system – Went from 10-SEER units to multi-stage, high-efficiency units. Cost difference was minimal vs. standard offerings. The cost to “repair” the old units was 50% of what it cost to buy a new system!
• Painted nearly the entire interior – My wife picked all the colors (Happy Wife), I picked the paint; all Low-VOC and easily available at my local big-box hardware store.
• Replaced all the flooring (some carpet with wood on the main floor, stairways, upper level hall and master bedroom). I can’t say I investigated much regarding the carpets, but I did make sure the wood floors were from trees grown in Georgia.
• Partially remodeled bathrooms using natural stone finishes and installed efficient faucets and shower heads.
• Converted all landscaping to natural areas; eliminated all grass! While this saves water, the truth is I hate yard work and have vowed the only grass I want to cut is with a 9-iron.

The next big job will probably be new windows; holding off for a while. It seems like you never really finish remodeling, but so far, I am happy about our results. First, we are still married. If your marriage can survive remodeling, while you are living in the home, then it should survive anything. And, the house looks great. My wife is “Happy” (ergo, I am “Happy”) and I am pleased we are lessening our impact on the world around us for today and for future generations.

I welcome your comments at butch@greenbuildermag.com

News from the Green Builder College front...

Green Builder® Media, the leading North American media company focused on sustainable development, recently announced that it has enhanced the functionality of its online educational platform, Green Builder College . Improvements to Green Builder College include expanded professional accreditations and continuing education units, upgraded website functionality, enhanced curriculum, and an increased number of participating academic institutions and industry partners.

"We're extremely pleased with the rapidly accelerating momentum that Green Builder College is experiencing," said Butch Gaudette, Green Builder Media's chief development officer. "Workforce education is changing, and building professionals are taking more courses online than ever before. Green Builder College offers the highest-quality building science content available online today."

Green Builder College's comprehensive curriculum covers topics including energy, water, materials, indoor environment quality, green design, operations/maintenance, and environmental impact. All courses are taught by acclaimed building professionals. "We're particularly excited about Level II of the Green Builder College curriculum, which consists of six courses based on the Energy & Environmental Building Alliance's (EEBA) Houses that Work program," noted Gaudette. "This track provides students with Advanced Green Builder Certification, as well as accreditation from organizations including theAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA), American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), Building Performance Institute (BPI), US Green Building Council (USGBC), and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)."

In addition to these accreditations, Green Builder College is offered as curriculum and/or continuing education at 150 colleges and universities across the country.

Green Builder College provides building professionals with the tools they need to improve their building practices and access green collar careers.

All comments are welcome: butch@greenbuildermag.com