Going green You don’t have to buy or build a new home to start liv-
ing your life in an earth-friendly—and money-saving—way. You could choose one room to remodel. You could shop for greener products when it comes time to replace aging equip- ment and appliances. You could even just change some of your habits. In the end, you’ll save some money and help protect the planet’s valuable resources. We talked to Rob Barefield, general manager of Hobart
Builders, to see what his remodeling customers are asking for. “Most of them are concerned about the rising costs of
energy, heating and cooling and insulating and things of that nature. One thing they can do for a tighter envelope is install new insulated windows,” Barefield said. Barefield suggests getting an energy audit on your home to
see where the faults are and how best to correct them. You can hire a professional to do the assessment, or you can do it yourself with tips found online. An audit may reveal the need for more insulation. The new,
super-efficient spray foam insulations are the most efficient, but they can be pricey. A cheaper alternative is adding to the traditional insulation you already have. “Te most obvious option we offer is upgrading to more
energy efficient equipment, like heating and cooling equip- ment or hot water heaters.” Barefield said. One popular prod- uct is a point-of-use water heater, which heats water as you need it, as opposed to traditional water heaters that work to keep a tankful of water hot all day. Some of Barefield’s customers are looking beyond energy
conservation when they decide to go green. He recommends quartz countertops for kitchen remodelers because it is abun- dant, strong, durable and requires little maintenance. Te Cambria brand gets his vote because it’s made in America, and because the company incorporates earth-friendly practices in its production. Barefield says you may have to spend several thousand dol-
lars to make some of these changes and that it could take ten years in the house to recoup your investment. “But if you’re planning to stay where you are, it will definitely be worth it,” he said. If your budget won’t allow big improvements, here are simple things anyone can do. C
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where you already are CHANGE A LIGHT BULB Use compact fluorescent bulbs. CFLs convert most of the
energy they use into light rather than heat. Tey consume about 75 percent less electricity and last up to 10 times lon- ger than incandescent bulbs.
BUY ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES If your appliances are ten years old, look at replacing
them with ones that carry the Energy Star label. Tese appliances use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water than standard models.
SHOWERHEADS AND TOILETS INSTALL LOW-FLOW Most older toilets waste large amounts of water, as much as
5 gallons per flush. Newer low-flow models are engineered to do the job just as well but with only about a gallon of water.
CHOOSE A HARDWOOD ALTERNATIVE
Try bamboo. It’s environmentally friendly because it’s
abundant and highly renewable. It takes just four to six years for bamboo to mature, compared to 50 to 100 years for typical hardwoods.
SEAL LEAKS Dodging drafts can reduce your energy bills 5 to 30 per-
cent. Seal leaks in windows, pipe outlets and foundation cracks with caulking or weather-stripping. Even a rolled-up towel at the base of the door will help keep cold air out.
INSTALL A SMARTER THERMOSTAT A programmable thermostat will help you maintain
more constant heating and cooling levels, and will ‘remind’ you to turn down the heat at night. Te EPA says that could save you $150 a year.
For more great ideas, look for the Energy Savers Guide at
www.energy.gov.
Columbus and the Valley April 2013
by Cyndy Cerbin
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