Green Home Building and Remodeling
31 12 2007This fall, I had the pleasure of spending time in Antwerp with some new friends who’d remodelled their adorable house in a green way. The Belgian government offers huge tax breaks for green homes, and hopefully Chicago will be offering more of this in the future. Currently, Chicago has around $1 million available for grants for solar heating, and waives the service fee of around $5,000 - $50,000 for developers installing green roofs.
What are some things you can do to build/remodel your home in a green way?
*Remodeling instead of starting from scratch is essential - think of all the bricks and lumber you’ll save when you use what’s already in place!
*Realize that some things might cost a little more up front, but in the long run the pay off will be huge!! This can range from small things like compact fluorescent lightbulbs to lots and lots of insulation to a more efficient water heater.
*Consider “lumber” made from materials other than wood (products made from recycled plastics exist, among others).
*Environmentally certified lumber can save forests as logging is done in a sustainable manner. For more info, visit the Forest Stewardship Council.
*Look for paint and adhesives that don’t release gases and organic materials for more breathable air around your domicile.
*Rooftop gardens insulate your home, saving on energy costs, add to your resale value, helps to reduce overall city warming, and reduces runoff that leads to water pollution. You can even grow herbs and vegetables on an accessible roof!
*Build a compost bin to reduce trash produced and generate fertilizer for your gardens.
*When buying appliances and items for the home, think about how long the items will last and how easy or difficult it would be to recycle and reuse the materials.
*Double pane windows help to insulate your home from the outside environment.
*Solar heating can be expensive, but government grants are available for them (Not sure how difficult it is to get one–more on this in a later post.)
*Disconnect your downspouts from the roof and garage to stop runoff into sewers.
For more info, click:
Energy Grants for Historic Chicago Bungalows
Landscape with Native Chicago Plants
