SAHBA Home Hints
May 20, 2007
Green is a Friendly Color for Homes
With an increase in home owners' desires to have energy conservation become a part of their lifestyle, the Green Building market is expanding rapidly. In celebration of National Remodeling Month, SAHBA asked Green Builder John Wesley Miller, owner of the John Wesley Miller Companies, for suggestions on how home owners can remodel green.
“Making a home green is easier than home owners may think. With a few minor changes to the home, they can make a big difference,” said Miller, SAHBA Green Build Committee Chair. “There are a number of household products available to make homes green.”
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Replace your windows with energy-efficient windows. Home owners can save on energy bills by keeping heat inside during the winter and outside during the summer.
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Use eco-friendly flooring such as bamboo, cork or eucalyptus. They are sustainable alternatives to the slower growing hardwoods and they mature in half the time it takes hardwoods to grow. They also are stylish and affordable.
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Change to compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use 70% less energy than regular bulbs and can save $30 or more in energy costs over each bulb's lifetime.
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Purchase Energy Star-rated appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, computers and televisions. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and U.S. Department of Energy. A qualified refrigerator, dishwasher and vent fan incorporate advanced technologies that use 10% to 50% less energy and water than standard models.
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Try a tankless water heater. They provide hot water on demand at a preset temperature rather than storing it, which reduces or eliminates standby losses. Replacing an electric water heater with a solar model can reduce costs by up to 80% a year. Also, selecting a more efficient and correctly sized water heater will save money.
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Replace old toilets with efficient ones. New toilets have redesigned bowls and tanks that use less water but function more efficiently than first-generation, low-flow models. In the average home, flushing toilets account for about 30% of water usage.
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Install an induction cooktop. Cooking with induction cooktops is faster than regular cooktops and uses far less energy.
“By thinking green, homeowners can not only save on utility bills, but also protect the environment,” said Miller.
Details: Miller at 325-3313.
SAHBA represents about 750 member businesses and 40,000 jobs serving the residential construction industry in Pima and Cochise counties.
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