Notes

TOP QUALITY Kitchen And Bath Renovations
Green Remodeling Ideas You Can Use!
Greening Your bathrooms:

The bathroom is a room dedicated to relaxation, health insurance and hygiene. But, it is a problematic source of pollutants that under mind personal and environmental health. If you opt to integrate some green remodeling ideas into your bathroom, remember to also search for environmentally-friendly products such as cosmetics, hairsprays, rubber floor mats, etc.

Green Remodeling Ideas for the toilet:

Use a dual flush toilet, or at least a low-flow, water saving toilet. These toilets can save you about $50.00 a year starting when they're installed and save over 180,000 gallons of water during the first 6 year period. Toilets use up to 28% of the water purchased in any given month. If you decide to keep your existing toilet you will find a simple way to conserve to a gallon of water per flush. Fill 1 liter bottles with water and a little gravel and seal them. Then place them in the toilet tank, out of the way of the flushing mechanism. Make sure that the toilet still flushes well before adding another bottle.
Look for shower heads that feel like they have a good full stream, but still have water saving capacity. Purchase a shower head with a shut-off valve at the very top. You can save thousands of gallons of water each year by reducing the water flow to a trickle while lathering, saving many gallons per shower which accumulates quickly.
Install a ?touchless? water faucets. You see these in lots of public restrooms today, but there are models available for your house. They are particularly a big hit with children, plus they save a lot of water to boot!
Consider installing a tankless water-heater. This can be a small unit near the ?point of use? or a entire home unit plenty powerful enough to keep your whirlpool bath water hot while the dishwasher and washer are running full tilt.
If your bathroom remodel involves removal of sheetrock on walls and ceilings, consider adding insulation to the hot and cool water pipes in the attic space and in virtually any outside walls for greater energy efficiency. This keeps them from sweating and producing moisture in your walls. If you can insulate the pipes running completely from the water-heater to the shower and faucets it'll save 5% to 10% on heating the water for these fixtures.
Next, if you're not up for a tankless water-heater, make sure that your home water-heater can be an energy conserving model, and install a ?re-circulating pump?. By turning on the pump for under a minute before you shower, you can move warm water to the shower head before you transform it on, virtually eliminating the water you would have wasted looking forward to it to heat up. The cost of the system is repaid in energy and water savings in under 3 years.
Install quiet vent fans to boost air-quality and remove moisture. Bathrooms generate a great deal of moisture each day and may promote mold and mildew growth. Many people have vent / fans but never use them. One way to easily get in the habit is to install an electronic timer that allows one to push a button so that the fan comes on and removes the moisture and turns itself off, so you don?t have to consider it. Another alternative would be to use a fan unit, like the Panasonic Whisper Quiet fan which quietly and constantly removes moisture from the bath at a very slow rate (10 cubic feet each and every minute), but also could be turned on such as a regular vent fan when more moisture removal is needed. This also helps to change out oxygen from the home generally. There are models available with motion detectors and humidity detectors that automatically turn on when needed.
Bath surfaces such as for example walls and floors. Look for recycled glass and ceramic tiles for a good all around choice for bathroom surfaces. It is possible to re-use tiles from your own existing bathroom for other projects in fact it is getting easier to find new tiles with a higher re-cycled content. When you use tile, choose tiles you can place close together and install an un-sanded grout, which is more challenging for mold to take hold in. Apply a water-based grout sealer after the installing tile will greatly increase the grout and tile while making it easier to clean.
Avoid petroleum based materials such as for example vinyl flooring and acrylic shower stalls. They use many energy to produce and are difficult to re-cycle.
I am not a big fan of ?refinishing? bathtubs and sinks because the finished do not endure very long. It does have the positive affect of keeping those materials out of landfills and environmentally friendly impacts of manufacturing new sinks and tubs however. Refinishing is great in case you are remodeling to get the house ready on the market.
Cork, bamboo and wood floors are not recommended for the bathroom even though they could be sealed, while there is a good chance they?ll have trouble taking a stand to the constant water exposure. Carpeting is not advisable either. NOTE: If your bathroom has vinyl flooring created before the mid 1980s it could be backed with paper containing with asbestos that may get into the air during removal. The very best idea is to use a new floor over the existing sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles to avoid getting asbestos in the air during removal.
Countertops can be manufactured from sealed stone, (Granite or Silestone type tops are most popular), but we still install ceramic tile tops aswell. Many sealers contain solvents that are not environmentally friendly so choose a water-based sealant such as for example ?AFM Safecoat Mexeseal? or ?Stone Tech Impregnator Pro Sealer? which are earth-friendly. Be sure your countertop installer installs the stone having an adhesive caulking that's ?Low VOC? (lower in Volatile Organic Compound) and that it's placed over formaldehyde ? free plywood, if possible. If you choose the wrong materials, they'll off-gas poisons into your house?s air for a long time.
Bathroom remodeling includes a large amount of caulking to seal joints and plug leaks. Caulk often contains toxins to make it stronger and fight mold, but it will establish in the air and harm you as time passes. Look for low ? VOC caulk that lasts at the very least a decade and cleans up easily with water.
Good bathroom maintenance. All bathrooms will experience leaks sooner or later. It is important to keep a watchful eye. A toilet with a leaking flush valve can waste 10 gallons of water each hour and cost you a huge selection of dollars a year. If you see mold or mildew on the drywall, especially near the floor or anywhere in the bath, take immediate steps to learn why and stop the leak source.
Green Remodeling Ideas for the Kitchen:

Kitchens tend to be the heart of the house where the party happens. It is where families and friends gather like moths to a flame. The goals of greening your kitchen will include natural lighting, good ventilation, low toxicity finishes, energy and water efficient appliances and surfaces which are durable and cleanable & most important, esthetically pleasing. Here are some specific suggestions for your kitchen:

1. Appliances:

Refrigerators: Buy an energy efficient refrigerator. This can be a must do if your refrigerator is 10 years old or older, as the energy efficiency is so much higher now.
Dishwashers: Be sure to buy an Energy Star ? rated model dishwasher (these use 41% less energy than other dishwashers).
Microwave Ovens: Buy a good microwave oven, these consume to 80% less energy when compared to a conventional oven.
Ovens and Ranges: gas and electric cooktops use between 55% to 65% of the power produced in the kitchen. Consider induction cooking (?glass tops?) designed to use 90% of most energy produced. Induction will not involve generating heat that is then used in the cooking vessel. It creates the cooking vessel itself the initial generator of the cooking heat. Whenever choosing an oven search for convection ovens, which conserve to 20% on energy. A self-cleaning model will have more insulation maintaining make it better, as well.
Avoid commercial appliances such as Sub-Zero refrigerators or Viking ranges unless you truly need the extra capacity. In line with the consumer product magazine surveys, most of the high quality models designed for residential use by the more traditional appliance manufacturers not merely cost significantly less, but have features that actually are better for residential applications.
2. Kitchen cabinets:

Consider installing cabinets manufactured from re-cycled or re-claimed wood. Search for more offerings in this department in the coming weeks. Many people are not aware that there are some gorgeous cabinet systems available manufactured from bamboo, a quick growing renewable resource. The glues for these is low ? VOC plus they even have special glues to use around chemically sensitive individuals. They come in various looks including natural and caramelized (a rich medium brown) and in vertical and flat grains. (See bamboocabinets.com)

3. Countertops:

Check out countertop materials using re-cycled materials such as for example re-cycled glass (see Icestone.biz or Vetrazzo.com). Icestone seems to have lighter colors with an increase of conservative patterns, and is more terrazzo-like. Vetrazzo has darker colors with bolder patterns.
People still love granite or Silestone needless to say, and granite is still very popular. Make sure that when you are sealing granite, you utilize a water-base Low or Low VOC sealer.
Another alternative for countertops is 100% recycled glass tiles for the countertops. They are not quite as hard and scratch resistant as ceramic tiles, nevertheless, you should consider them for your backsplash material if you opt to do stone on the main countertop.
A fresh and interesting type of countertop material is named paper composite. The 2 2 main brands of the product are ?Paper Stone? and ?RichLite?. Paper Stone uses 100% recycled, post consumer, paper pulp, and RichLite uses pulp from sustainable managed forests. The countertop material is processed and combined with other fibers which have been impregnated with resin. Contrary to popular belief, they are very difficult, waterproof, and the composite material handles heat well. The material does not nick easily and comes in many darker colors that resist staining. Bet of most you would out-green friends and family by being the initial someone to have cool recycled paper countertops. Discuss a conversation piece!

Plastic countertop materials vary widely in look, recycled content, recyclability, and composition. Some are constructed of compressed yogurt containers and aluminum (!) while some end up looking like traditional terrazzo such as for example Origins, which is made from 100%, post consumer, polyethylene material.
Wood: Untreated wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) can be an alternative, but it isn't a good choice for continually wet areas, like the space surrounding a sink and will be burned or scorched near the cooking surfaces. Though it could be kept sealed with natural mineral oil, to avoid drying, it really is still not my favorite for a long term, durable and healthy counter material
Stainless steel: This is considered a green material, especially if it is manufactured from salvaged metal or includes a high recycled content. Additionally it is recyclable. When used as a countertop material, it really is among the most expensive however.
Formica and other laminates: Don?t eliminate laminate as a countertop material. Much has been done by the manufacturers to create this material efficiently while being less reliant on fossil fuels and reducing emissions. Take into account that laminate countertops are 70% paper and wood products and the rest are water based phenolic resins and always have been. In fact the majority are ?Greenguard Certified?. Best of all, good-ole Formica is many times less expensive than many of the options above.
4. Vent hoods:

Use an energy efficient vent hood and make certain that it includes a variable speed exhaust fan that transfers the air out side of your house. Look for a power Star ? rated exhaust fan.

5. Use a trustworthy skylight, just like a Velux Sun Tunnel or Roof Window. These usually do not leak and don't add heat to the area like the older skylights. kitchen and bath renovations bring in lots of natural light which means you won?t need to use any artificial lighting during the day. That is a great energy-saving idea. Natural, full spectrum light makes everything in your kitchen or bath look richer and much more attractive. Your countertops and cabinets will ?stand out?.Install a high-efficiency ceiling fan to greatly help move air through the area and create natural ventilation.

6. Install compact florescent, recessed light fixtures which are 4 to 5 times more efficient than incandescent lighting and cooler. For the best look, pick lights with a color rendering index of 84 or greater and a color temperature of 3500 Kelvin or greater, sufficient reason for a quick-start electronic ballast. These numbers may appear to be technical mumbo-jumbo but they are often printed right on the box that the bulb comes in, so search for them.

7. Look at a local, on-demand warm water system or a entire home, re-circulating, hot water loop (discussed above). Energy Star Ratings for appliances: Search for this rating on every appliance you get. Energy Star (www.energystar.gov/) is a fantastic program. This is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. Email address details are already accumulated. Americans, by using ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2007 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from 27 million cars ? all while saving $16 billion on their utility bills!.

Conclusion: I hope you find these details useful. I encourage one to try creating a few ?green? features into your next project. You will feel great sense of satisfaction knowing you aren't only doing good works for the planet, but also for yourself and your family.

Green Remodeling Ideas for the surface:

The first things that pop into mind once you think about exterior remodeling improvements are solar energy and solar water heating systems. There are numerous vendors in the Houston area that sell and install these systems, however they are not cheap. Solar powered energy is still more expensive than fossil fuel generated electricity, but you can find amazing advances being made in solar to make it more competitive.

The technology is changing as fast as the rest of the technology around us, particularly in Germany and Japan where government subsidies to consumers have sparked booms in installing these systems. Understand that solar power systems are also known as PV (photovoltaic systems) if you are doing your research. The cost to set up a solar / PV systems which produce enough energy to run your home, including a/c in the summertime come in the $30K to $45K range.

Solar water-heaters could be cost effective in virtually any climate but work well in the Gulf Coast area where we've plenty of sun. There are 2 forms of systems; Active, which has a circulating pump and controls and Passive, which does not. Solar water-heaters need a well insulated storage tank. Sometimes there are 2 tank systems in which the solar water-heater pre-heats the water before it enters the traditional water-heater. You haven't any doubt seen some of the black, weather-proof boxes called ?flat plate collectors? on people?s roofs. While they are still used (and will be especially good for pool heating), the technology that is coming on strong now is the ?evacuated ? tube solar collectors?. Within a long (2 to 3 3 feet) glass outer tube you will find a metal absorber tube mounted on a fin. The fin has a coating which absorbs solar technology, but will not release heat loss. Previously these have been used more in commercial applications, but as the cost is coming down, it is being used progressively more for residential applications. For anyone who is interested in solar power or water-heating, there is plenty of info on line, see www.eere.energy.gov.

What are various other exterior remodeling opportunities to go green? Insulated doors and windows are excellent types of a way to not only increase your home?s efficiency, but additionally a way to cut down on the noise pollution that seems to be a constant din nowadays. There are a number of vendors and a number of window and door types, including aluminum, vinyl, and clad wood products. Make sure that you buy windows and doors that have a good ?Low-E? coating, that are double paned, having an Argon gas feature. It really is worth noting that there is a higher level of Low-E coating available called ?Low-E 2? which has a metallic coating within the outer pane. This keeps heat out much more effectively than traditional Low-E coatings.

If you are performing a room addition, you have a chance to build the walls differently than traditional construction, and you should consider ?structural insulated panels? which are pre-fabricated, highly efficient wall sections that fit together like a puzzle or ?ICF?s which means ?insulated concrete forms?. It is a system of Styrofoam and steel mesh blocks which are filled with concrete for a very energy-efficient, an extremely strong wall system. This can be perfect for coastal locations or even if you would like to feel protected from hurricane force winds the following in the city of Houston.

Moisture control is a very important section of proper exterior construction. Products such as for example permeable house wraps (such as Tyvek) and Styrofoam / Blueboard insulating sheets can all help with keeping water from home. There are several newer house wraps that won't tear, that perform perfectly and are more likely to last a lot longer than typical house wraps. One locally available brand name is XYZ?????

Fiber cement siding, (such as for example James Hardie siding) are excellent products inside our human environment, and have excellent warranties. To improve the energy efficiency of the surface of your home contemplate using light paint colors and planting trees that may provide good shade on the East and West sides of your house.

Before putting that new roof on your own home or room addition, install ?Radiant Barrier? plywood decking, (such as for example Tech-Shield) or radiant barrier paint within the roof, facing the attic. There are a number of methods to improve ventilation and remove heat from your own room addition or your existing attic space. Ask your contractor about options which range from solar powered exhaust vents on the top, to perforated soffit material, to roof ridge vents. Ask your contractor or builder should they may use high-tech structural framing members, created from weed-woods which are produced from easily replaced or re-cycled materials. There are even metal framing components crafted from re-cycled steel, in the event that you look for them.

If you are creating a deck as part of your remodeling project, consider one of the numerous re-cycled, composite decking material such as Trex or Ultrawood????. They are available locally within Houston and there are many other brands on the market to consider. These are more expensive to set up initially, but will last many years longer and require -0- maintenance, if installed correctly.

In case you are pouring a concrete patio slab, sidewalk or perhaps a driveway, consider putting in Pervious Concrete instead of traditional concrete. A locally available make of that is called ?Ecocrete?. Additionally it is referred to as ?enhanced porous concrete?, since it allows rainwater to trickle down between your 2 sizes of rocks (called aggregate) that the material is constructed of. It is strong but porous.

Whether you are insulating your brand-new room addition or improving the insulation in your existing home, consider re-cycled materials such as cellulose or cotton insulation. Lots of people don?t find out about it, but there exists a wonderful cotton insulation product obtainable in Houston that is manufactured from re-cycled blue jeans. Like cellulose, which is made of ground-up newspaper, the material is treated to be fire-retardant also to resist the affects of fire and moisture. These materials also tend to have better acoustic properties aswell, and are often installed in interior walls, particularly around the master bedroom.

Rainwater collection systems; consider trapping some of that water that pours down during your gutters and downspouts into a large collection tank in an inconspicuous spot in your backyard. Our regular Houston rains can keep it filled with enough water so that you can attach your hose and have a gravity fed water supply to water all your vegetables and flower gardens. Putting one of these collection systems together is simpler than you may think, and can be done at under $500.00.

Green Remodeling Ideas for the inside:

Have the air-conditioning system and the ?leaky? areas of your house evaluated to see where repairs are essential. For instance; there are consultants inside our City who is able to temporarily use a ?blower door? which takes the place of one of your exterior doors and creates a strong negative draft blowing to the exterior. Once the fan is fired up, each of the spots in your house that allow air to seep in (and moisture and other bad things) become apparent. A list of these places is manufactured and suggestions for plugging those leaks.

Similarly, a ?duct blaster test? can be carried out which forces a big level of air into your existing a/c and heating ducts to find all the areas where air is escaping. A lot of us live in homes that are 30 to 60 years old here in Houston, and the estimated air loss is 50%.

If duct work must be replaced, it ought to be replaced with insulated, rigid or flexible ducting, meeting the existing, model energy, code requirements of an R-8 rating. One excellent make of crush-proof and green (formaldehyde free) duct work is a brand called ?Flexmaster?. Be sure you ask for this by name.

There are a myriad of indoor quality of air machines that can make your life easier and more comfortable. It is beyond the scope of the article to go into them in detail, but many of them involve maintaining an ideal humidity level at home (ideal indoor humidity is about 56%), with the addition of a de-humidifying machine in the attic and installing systems which have proper replacement air, so there exists a constant re-cycling of fresh air in your home. If you live in a newer home (especially one built in the last 10 years), you might have a very tight home that tends to trap air- borne fumes and toxins.

Controlling lights by installing electronic dimmers, (which you shouldn't set on full blast), but always down a notch or two. This is the great way to extend bulb life, several fold and also keep the temperature down in the home.

Most interior remodels involve interior paint work. Some of them involve a lot of interior paint work. You should look for interior paints that are Low-VOC products. They are available in both latex, water-base paint and oil-base paints. Remember that there are numerous of paint products out there that claim to be Low-VOC and these reduce smog, but that is only portion of the story. Consumers have to ask specifically if the paint promotes indoor air quality and if all the toxins are applied for. You might have a paint that is low-VOC, but if it has a pronounced smell, you are breathing in aromatic, hydrocarbons, which is not a good thing. Also make sure to ask if the clean-up solvents to be used may also be low-VOC. Sherwin Williams makes some low-VOC paints (ask for Harmony paints). In addition there are numerous excellent products made by AFM ?Safe Coat?. AFM Safe Coat also makes low-VOC sealants, glues, stains, carpet shampoos and caulking. These are available locally by way of a company called Southwest Building Products ?????. Remember also, that paints which are imported from a foreign country or far away manufacturers aren't considered green due to high carbon footprint to get the product to you.

Interior Plasters ? A growing number of Homeowners are requesting ?Mediterranean Plaster? kind of looks rather than the traditional roll textures. There are some excellent products made for interior decorative use and are made of re-cycled materials, such as sea-shells from the sea-food industry and re-claimed marble dust. One such product, locally available is ?American Clay?. Even the cotton bags that the material comes in could be recycled! Creative contractors are adding other materials to produce very interesting textures and looks, such as for example mica, straw and also coffee grounds and tobacco!

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