Remodeling: 5 Steps to Greening Your Home on a Budget

Everyone wants to save the world. We want to rescue the planet. Protect the health of our family. Create a safe living environment. And we all know that green building can help do all these things. But while many homeowners realize the importance of an environmentally friendly home, people often believe that to make a real difference you have to spend a lot of money. But if this were true nothing would ever be accomplished. In fact, like with any construction, green building comes with expensive as well as thrifty options. And sometimes the smaller choices create the most change. In David Johnston's book, ?Green Remodeling: Changing the World One Room at a Time,? he suggests you don't have to change everything; you just have to change something. Any alteration helps, and it's not a competition about who can be the most energy efficient. Plus, we all know it's important to conserve your budget as well as the environment. So here are 5 easy ways you make your home greener without spending a lot of green.

1. Rule #1: Energy Efficiency
When it comes to green remodeling, the number one concern is also the most practical: energy efficiency. Just a couple small changes can make a world of difference to your family budget. Replace your oversized dishwasher or washing machine with a small, EnergyStar appliance. Put in low-flow faucets, showerhead, or toilets. And the best way to ensure against energy waste is by installing more insulation and sealing up those drafts. It's best to insulate above building codes, so use products with higher R-values and then use more of it. It costs more upfront, but you'll get a return on your investment every year. And a great nontoxic alternative to fiberglass insulation is recycled cotton batts (or recycled denim), which is treated with borates to prevent fire and pest infestation. Or for bigger projects, such as walls and attic, use recycled cellulose insulation instead.

2. Let the Light In
If efficiency is the number one rule, then the easiest way to conserve energy is in your lighting choices. First, replace your existing incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. Even if you only replace two bulbs throughout the entire home you still make a big impact. As Johnston states, ?one fluorescent saves the equivalent energy of driving a car coast to coast.? Their price tag is heavier, but they also save on utilities and last longer. Next, think about natural lighting. More windows, skylights, and tubular light pipes not only open up a room and make it brighter, they can also help conserve power. Maybe invest in low-e panes to help block out the sun when necessary. Even drapes and solar shades are a great green renovation that adds value to your home as well.

3. Paint It Safe
Painting is the most common remodel. It's fast, cheap, and easy while still adding a dramatic change to a room. However, many traditional paints contain lots of VOC (Volatile Organic Compound), a dangerous toxin that can be emitted into the air: so there's a reason you get headaches around that new paint smell! Plus, these emissions can cause nausea and create respiratory system irritation. Therefore, many major manufacturers offer low or no VOC paint in their stores (they typically only cost a couple bucks more off the shelf). Just using the correct green remodeling product can ensure a safe living environment and protect the overall air quality in the home.

4. Go Organic with Your Floor
A popular way to add quick value to a home is with a new floor. Hardwoods have become the latest trends, but they also deplete valuable natural resources and cost a lot of money to install. Therefore, you may want to think about bamboo flooring. Bamboo looks like wood, but it's actually a grass product that naturally rejuvenates on its own without the need for replanting. Not only does this make it eco-friendly, it's also great for the wallet since grasses are durable, flexible, and cheaper to install. Also, you may want to think about natural linoleum: it's inexpensive, entirely organic, but comes in a variety of styles and colors to match a wide array of design options.

5. Keep It Simple: Use the 3 R's
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Green building can't get much simpler than this. So don't make it difficult. Green remodeling doesn't necessarily have to be about new construction or state-of-the-art appliances. It can be as simple as creating a recycling center in your house made out of reused moving boxes or totes. Merely install a timer on your water heater or pool pump, which conserves money as well. Or if you do build new, a key part of green building is using recycled products (wood, masonry, stone) from previous projects that can be bought inexpensively from demolition companies, junkyards, or even landfills.