When remodeling your home, eco-friendly choices
can help you conserve resources and reduce your
impact on the environment. As the demand for
green building materials grows, major manufactures are
expanding their affordable sustainable options, so the
green choice may also be the less expensive one. Here
are some green guidelines to consider during your next
remodeling project.
- Consider renewable sources for cabinetry. Choose wood
products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
(FSC), which will be harvested from sustainably managed
forests. Spruce, eucalyptus or reclaimed wood are
durable, sustainable options from sources that rapidly
replenish.
- Use eco-friendly paint. Most paints release toxic fumes
called VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be inhaled
even after the paint is dry. They are potentially carcinogenic
and contribute to indoor air pollution. But now
low- or no-VOC paint is readily available for use. Most
paints rely on petroleum based solvents, but eco-friendly
paints are water based and are offered in all forms including
primer, finish, sealer, wax and stain.
- Opt for durable sustainable materials when replacing
your floors. Linoleum is made from all natural ingredients
(linseed oil) and has a life span of thirty to forty years. It
resists damage and is easy to clean. Other popular choices
include concrete, which can be decoratively embellished,
and bamboo and cork flooring, which are both FCS endorsed.
Recycled-content carpet not only produces fewer
emissions during manufacturing and less off-gassing in
the home, it can also be recycled when its useful life is up.
- When replacing appliances, select models that exhibit the
Energy Star label. This means the item meets or exceeds
international guidelines for energy efficiency. The more
efficient the appliance, the more energy and cost savings
you will have over the long run. You may get a rebate on
your purchase as well; check with your utility company.
- The less material in our landfills the better, so consider
what to do with your remodeling waste. Can any of the
materials be reused in another project? Can items be
donated or sold? Consider donating your deconstructed
material to industrial recyclers so it can be reused in the
product stream.
For additional resources, please contact your local
Pillar To Post office.
Rocky Banks
9 Honey Brook Circle Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-455-5994
rocky.banks@pillartopost.com
pillartopost.com/wmontgomerycounty
MD HI LIC # 29723
ASHI Member # 244996
MDE Water Sampler #0904-00-721
Residential Housing Mold Inspector
NSPF Certified Pool-Spa Operator® #20-237213
Certified Home Energy Tune-Up® Inspector
EDR-Certified Neighborhood Environmental Reports™
FEMA Disaster Housing Inspector Trainee #29510
THE HOME OF HOME INSPECTION
www.pillartopost.com