I was interviewed by a writer this morning for an upcoming article in Westchester Magazine. We were discussing things people are doing to improve their existing homes in order to make them more attractive to buyers in an uneasy real estate market. The conversation lead to sustainable architecture and the recent demand for all things “green”.
Here are five ways to go green without breaking the bank (which, if broken, would end up in a landfill… unless you recycled it or reused it, but I digress…).
1. Improve Your Thermal Barrier - Adding insulation is a simple way to improve the performance of your heating and air conditioning systems. Keeping the conditioned air in and the outside air out is the most basic approach to energy efficiency. The quickest way to do this is to add additional batt insulation to your attic floor, making sure that the entire area of the ceiling below is covered. Current building code prescribes R-38, but more is better.
Some upgrades to traditional batt insulation are spray foam or cellulose insulations. The foam has a better R-value than fiberglass and also performs as an air barrier, completely sealing the inside from the outside. Cellulose is a healthy alternative, but is more expensive and performs about the same as fiberglass.
Once your attic is insulated, move to the walls. If the walls are insulated with fiberglass batts, it will be difficult to improve the insulation value without tearing apart the walls ($$$). If you live in an older home that has wool insulation (which settles over time and leaves voids filled with outside air) or no insulation at all, foam insulation is available in a pourable version. A small hole is drilled at each wall stud bay and the foam insulation is poured in using a long hose that starts at the bottom of the wall cavity and fills the void completely from bottom to top.
2. Replace Your Windows - Once your ceiling and walls are sealed up, the next place to address is your windows. Adding insulated windows will help keep drafts out and conditioned air in. Low-E glass will keep the heat energy from the sun out, but will allow the natural light in.
To keep costs down, consider replacement windows. Both Andersen and Marvin offer versions of their standard windows in a replacement configuration. While not quite as beneficial as a full window replacement, it is certainly better than not replacing the windows at all.
3. Replace Your Water Heater - If your water heater is more than 10 years old, it is time for a new one. Standard water heaters do not typically last beyond 15 years and new heaters are significantly more efficient.
You may also want to consider a tankless water heater. These systems heat water on-demand and only heat the water you use, unlike traditional water heaters that continuously heat water whenever it drops below the set temperature.
Beware though, tankless water heaters provide unlimited hot water. Sometimes “running out of hot water” is a good thing. It limits the length of your shower and thus saves water.
4. Replace Your Old Toilets - In 1995, the National Energy Policy Act mandated 1.6 gallon flush toilets. Before the 1950s, toilets typically used 7 gallons or more for each flush. By the end of the 1960s, toilets were designed to flush with only 5.5 gallons, and in the 1980s the new toilets being installed were using only 3.5 gallons. Today, a new toilet uses no more than 1.6 gallons of water in the U.S. (Source: Toiletology 101)
5. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle - Almost everything can be recycled or re-used today. Set up a recycling program for your house. Make sure you have a separate can or bin for co-mingled (glass, plastic and metal) recyclables, paper/cardboard and compostable food waste. A quality sink disposal will take care of the non-compostable food waste. Make sure the bins are easily accessible and your program will succeed. Once you sort out the above, there isn’t much left for the garbage man and much less heading to the landfill.
