--The most sustainable materials are often recycled materials.  The same can be said for buildings in some cases.  But it is important to realize that when cleaning up an older building you often run into unsustainable materials that can be hazardous to contractors during renovation.  Our friends at Asbestos.com have delivered a featured blog post to share some of the hazards of renovating a building.

As the “environmentally friendly” movement continues to gain popularity, sustainable ...

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--Thermal insulated window treatments act as a similar energy efficient retrofit as low E window films.

In a recent post, the use of low E residential window films was discussed as a viable opportunity to reduce solar heat gain.  Solar heat gain is perhaps one of the largest contributors to high cooling costs in warmer months.  In addition, UV rays entering your house can cause furniture to be destroyed.  There are plenty of undeniable reasons why solar heat gain can be devastating to a home's...

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The sun's energy is one of the most overlooked contributors to the high energy costs that homeowner's face every month. Solar heat gain is used to refer to heat from the sun that enters your home through windows and skylights even when they are closed.  This heat must be removed by your air conditioning making it work harder and costing you more money.  A very cost effective way to control this heat and help keep your energy bills down is to use residential low E window films. 

These ea...

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Residential energy audits are the first step in cutting energy costs. Before eliminating energy loss in your home you must first identify where your house is losing the most energy. Using this information you are more capable of effectively cutting energy costs without wasting time and money on projects that may not produce as valuable results.

Another way to save money and increase the return on investment for your energy efficiency projects is to perform the energy audit yo...
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Respect the Environment while you improve your home

A sustainable home renovation can range from upgrading windows and insulation to replacing the flooring with eco-friendly materials. The first tenet of green building is to conserve energy in every way you can: through the course of the renovation and in your daily living, the way your home uses and saves energy will determine just how sustainable your living space has become.

When renovating, you should use materials that have been recyc...

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Sustainable construction materials are becoming more widely developed and produced.  While this is great for the industry these new materials and products for sustainable renovations and new construction must be assessed by consumers and contractors on many different levels.  The problem with the advancing market is that companies start producing items that appeal to green consumers because they merely have to in order to stay in business.  But are these green building products and materials ...

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Prefabricated structures (prefab) are sustainable because they limit any material waste, can be assembled in a significantly shorter period of time, and can often be disassembled and moved if necessary.  I have elaborated on each of these points and more in a recent post about steel prefab.   However, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce prefab in the renovations blog. 

The reason being is that many new prefab start ups are designing and building sheds to go in back yards th...

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A radiant floor heating system can be used with a couple different sources of heat sources.  The most popular is a hydronic source running off of a boiler but the most sustainable is a geothermal heat pump.  However, the application of a radiant floor heating system is debated as a sustainable heating option.  It has been experimented in with commercial and residential buildings, also in cold, moderate and warm climates.  The most popular debate is based on its use as retrofit system or in ...

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If are thinking of doing a kitchen renovation and need some ideas of where you can go green, look no further.  The HGTV green dream home giveaway consisted of a green home in California that features many sustainable materials and products.  Some highlights of the kitchen include quartz countertops, engineered wood flooring, energy star appliances, and glass tile back splash. 

Okay, so the Green Dream Home is not the most sustainable house featuring the most sustainable kitchen but it was b...

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calibamboo.com

The capabilities of an $8 stick of lumber and where it could be used in sustainable construction.

Cali Bamboo has introduced a line of engineered dimensional lumber that is made from 100% compressed bamboo.  The marketing points for this new product are a “stronger more durable wood that is affordable and green.”  Stronger and more durable?   Maybe, but it hasn’t undergone any formal testing for code regulations and is only sold for fence posts.  Affordable?  Ther...

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An essential part of a sustainable renovation or retrofit is installing quality, energy-efficient windows.  It is no secret that windows are responsible for many leaks in a building envelope and often show up as a deficiency in home energy audits.  There are a few major attributes that an energy-efficient window will have in order to eliminate drafts and help maintain indoor temperatures.

The most recent innovation in efficient window technology is a triple glazed, vinyl or fiberglass fra...

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photo: totalgreenenergysolutions.com

Before beginning any sustainable renovation on your home, be sure to identify which aspects of your home contribute to the most energy deficiencies.  By completing a home energy audit a professional will assess what aspects of your home need to be corrected.  An energy assessment report can tell any homeowner where they should invest their money in a sustainable renovation in order to see the most economic return in energy bill savings.

Some may sugg...

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When choosing solid hardwood flooring it is important to understand the source of the wood and how it is processed into flooring.  The Forest Stewardship Council does most of the research for the consumers and certifies wood flooring products that come from sustainable sources.  Sometimes the more exotic species that are FSC certified are very expensive if they do exist.  An alternative to this expensive wood flooring is engineered hardwood flooring. 

Engineered hardwood flooring is made ...

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Federal and local incentives to renovate a home have been few and far between, until now!  On March 6, 2010 the House of Representatives passed the bill for the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act.  This bill offers tax credits to homeowner’s willing to invest in energy efficient upgrades in their home.  Consider upgrading insulation or replacing windows in your next renovation and receive rebates from the government.  However, be wise in your decision to jump on this opportunity as even with the...

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Modern Eco Friendly Countertops -- When considering a green kitchen or bathroom renovation, it is important to understand what makes a sustainable countertop and what materials are available.  Also a large portion of a kitchen renovation budget could be consumed by the countertop you choose to install.  Fortunately, eco friendly countertops are available for a range of prices; including do-it-yourself options that can save you thousands.

Many countertop materials such as granite and marble...

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Traditionally the kitchen is the focal point of any home, and it is often the first place that homeowner’s seek to renovate with intentions of increasing the equity of their home.  While green kitchen renovations typically cost between 10 and 25k dollars, they really do result in immediate economic return through lowered utility bills and will increase the value of your home when it’s time to sell.  Some may shy away from green kitchen renovations because of the costly initial investment....
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This website will cover many interesting aspects of sustainable construction practices as new products and technology are implemented into the construction industry.  Follow along as breaking news stories and products are analyzed and reviewed.  This blog was created by Architectural Engineering student John Noriega in order to interact with other professionals in the industry and discuss sustainable construction.  The blog is also made to appeal to America's homeowners as it will discuss the...
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