Going Green

Home energy costs rise at an average of about 7% a year, which is well above the rate of inflation. It’s also well above the average rate of raises employees get each year, which means you’ll be spending more on your house than will be going into your wallet. While houses almost always appreciate in value the longer you hold onto them, we’ve seen with the recent housing crash that that’s not always the ...

Solar energy is a renewable source of energy, which makes it an exceedingly attractive choice in powering your home: the cost is usually a one-off (except for some government taxes), you start seeing savings in your electricity bill right away, and the government rewards you for this eco-friendly choice in the way of tax credits. However, the main thing stopping homeowners all over this country from installing solar roof panel...

For those who are seeking to save money on their remodeling project, using re-purposed or recycled materials can be a great way to ensure that you get the best value possible for your project. Gently used materials that may still be able to be used in your project ensures Read More

Tax refunds for 2013 are setting off a new buying trend. In past years, many individuals or families receiving larger refunds would spend their refund money on paying off bills or new purchases. However, during 2013 there seems to be a growing increase in refunds being put towards home remodeling and land home package purchases. These purchases and projects are become popular for several reasons. Only one of which being the af... Read More

Did you know that 75 percent of a home's water usage is linked to the bathroom? Like many Americans, you may be planning a big project remodel for your bathroom this summer. If you've been planning diligently for this project, then you've probably read that energy conservation and green bathroom projects are strongly encouraged to create more value and lower your energy costs. These bathroom ideas will not only save you on res... Read More

Window manufacturing has come a long way in the past decade. New glass coatings have allowed for homes to be more efficient than ever before. In fact, it's one of the top remodeling projects for American homes. The new low-e coatings improve energy performance. By adding extra layers of glass and increasing the thickness of airspace between the layers of glass, you reduce the heat transfer through windows and limit the amount ... Read More

Recent reports by McGraw-Hill show that quality and value are driving up the green building market in its latest SmartMarket Report: New and Remodeled Green Homes. The report shows an estimate by McGraw-Hill Construction that green homes share of the construction market was at 17 percent in 2011, equal to $17 billion. This number is also expected to rise 29 to 38 percent by 2016, turning this green building market into an $87 ... Read More

New efficient homes are springing up all over the country. Entire communities are built around the idea of sustainable energy and environmental consciousness. But what about remodelers? How can they create some new energy in their homes? One rural home in Tennessee has gotten close with a net zero energy renovation. Read More

What's it take to get the best in the best for green building? There's a new alphabet in town, and it doesn't go ABCD. It's HERS, RESNET, BPI, LEED AP and various other acronyms that contractors need to know, but homeowners should know about too, specifically if creating an energy conscious home is on your mind. "LEED Certified" is probably the most common thing that you'll hear among contractors, since only buildings can be ... Read More

Remodeling projects can offer you a chance to start living more environmentally conscious and even add in some energy conservative methods to your home while you're renovating. You can choose sustainable remodeling practices to ensure that your home is green from beginning to end. The right way to go green is by starting with a thorough evaluation, inspecting existing insulation, air sealing, and mechanical systems, such as HV... Read More