REMODELING

2008 IDEA BOOK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The First Suburbs Coalition would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to this book:

City of Independence Fairway, Kansas Mary M. Hunt, Senior Planner Gladstone, Missouri City of Kansas City, Mo. Grandview, Missouri Carol Adams, Environmental Management Commission Independence, Missouri City of Raytown Kansas City, Kansas John Benson, Senior Planner Kansas City, Missouri City of Prairie Village Merriam, Kansas Dennis Enslinger, Assistant City Administrator Mission, Kansas Greater Kansas City Home Builders Association Mission Hills, Kansas Stan Parsons, Special Projects Coordinator Mission Woods, Kansas Kansas City Power & Light North Kansas City, Missouri Mike Schifman, Product Manager, Mass Markets/Energy Solutions Overland Park, Kansas Metropolitan Energy Center Prairie Village, Kansas Robert Housh, Executive Director Raytown, Missouri Dustin Grey Jensen, Operations and Special Projects Riverside, Missouri Mid-America Regional Council Roeland Park, Kansas Dean Katerndahl, Government Innovations Forum Director Tom Jacobs, Environmental Programs Director Sugar Creek, Missouri James Joerke, Air Quality Program Manager Westwood, Kansas Jody Ladd Craig, Public Affairs Director Westwood Hills, Kansas Barbara Hensley, Public Affairs Coordinator Piper-Wind Architects, Inc. Eric Piper, AIA, Principal The First Suburbs Coalition is made up of the cities that were Gretchen Johnson, Assoc. AIA, LEEDAP first to grow around the core of Kansas City. Leaders from Lindsay Tatro, Assoc. AIA, LEEDAP these communities work together on common issues, including modernizing housing stock, maintaining public infrastructure, and attracting and retaining businesses. CONTENTS

Why Green Remodeling? what is green remodeling? 2 Principles of Green remodeling is an environmentally responsible Sustainable Design approach to design, maintenance and renovation 3 that provides for a healthy, comfortable, durable and energy-efficient home. 5 Three Stages of Green It’s a new way of thinking about the products and processes involved in home remodeling. And it’s a Green Basics personal choice — a way you can make a difference. 6 10 Green Elements

Green Systems Many of the older neighborhoods in Kansas Now the coalition is combining its support 14 City’s First Suburbs are characterized by tree- for remodeling with its strong commitment lined streets and charming neighborhoods, but to environmental responsibility by offering Finding a Green they also have many post-World War II homes this supplemental Green Remodeling Idea Book, 18 Remodeling Contractor that need to be updated to today’s standards. which provides practical ideas to make any remodeling project a green project — Remodeling is often an attractive solution from a fresh coat of paint to a complex Homeowner Checklist for homeowners who want to stay in the 19 room addition. neighborhoods they love, but also want modern conveniences in their homes. Green remodeling is better for you, your Shopping Sustainably family, your community and the planet 20 The First Suburbs Coalition offered — and you may be surprised to find that it homeowners a wealth of remodeling ideas can save money, too. Resources in its first Idea Book, published in 2005. 21 why green remodeling? top cost savings it’s better for you and your family reasons environmental to benefits Going green is good for your health — both physical and go green health benefits emotional. Natural materials and natural light help create attractive rooms that make your home more comfortable. potential higher Green designs also make your home resale value healthier by maximizing fresh air. And using low- or non-toxic materials can it’s better for your community decrease allergies and prevent some health problems. Green homes can minimize the strain on landfills, water treatment plants, power plants and other local government Good design choices will make your infrastructure. home a more pleasing space, and contribute to your overall quality of life. Buying green products locally not only supports your local economy, but also reduces the amount of energy needed to it’s better for your pocketbook transport out-of-town goods into the area.

Energy-efficient designs can have an immediate impact on your monthly utility it’s better for the planet bills. The most efficient new appliances With green remodeling, you can enhance typically use up to 50 percent less energy our environment rather than depleting it. By than older, more wasteful models. choosing environmentally responsible products Efficient and durable materials and features you help protect our air, water, plants and wildlife. in your home not only last longer, but may As you plan your remodeling project, look for also cost less to maintain in the long run. ways to minimize construction waste and recycle leftover materials. Even small steps can make a Green remodeling can also increase the resale big difference. value of your home. More than 90 percent of homebuyers say they are willing to pay more for a home with green features.

2 sustainability principles of sustainable design It’s a buzzword we hear a lot when people talk about “green” principles and practices, but what Use low-impact materials does sustainability really mean? Select materials that are non-toxic, renewable, made with recycled content and durable. Sustainability is the ability to meet our Be energy efficient needs today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Select products that use less energy and make use of natural energy sources. Living sustainably doesn’t have to mean doing without. You want your home to be livable, comfortable and safe. Just think Choose quality and durability about the choices you make — as you begin Select products and building techniques that will last longer and your remodeling project, and as you go function better, needing less frequent replacement and fewer repairs. about your daily routines.

Take a look around your home. Think Reduce, reuse, recycle about the resources involved in creating the things you see around you — not just Reduce usage and consumption. Reuse or donate products whenever the furnishings, but also the structure itself. possible, and recycle things that have outlived their usefulness. Everything you see required energy and raw materials to manufacture and transport. Buy locally

When you choose products that require less Purchase products and materials that are produced or harvested energy to produce and maintain, or products locally to reduce the energy used for transport. that are made from renewable resources, you’re practicing sustainability. Protect your health The small steps you take today can make a big difference tomorrow. Reduce pollutants and toxins inside your home.

3 Americans spent an estimated $204 billion on home repair and remodeling in 2007. What kind of impact could green remodeling practices have?

OO If every American homeowner replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR is a joint program ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough more than of the U.S. Environmental $600 million in annual energy costs. Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed OO When it’s time to buy new appliances, choose those that have to save money and protect the earned the ENERGY STAR label — you can save $80 a year in environment through energy- energy costs. efficient products and practices. It is a voluntary labeling program that OO Programmable thermostats automatically adjust your home’s identifies energy-efficient products. temperature settings, allowing you to save energy while you’re away or sleeping. When used properly, a programmable thermostat will save about $150 per year on your utility bills. WaterSense, a partnership OO Ceiling fan/light combination units that have earned the program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ENERGY STAR label are about 50 percent more efficient helps make it easy for you to save than conventional fan/light units. water and protect the environment. OO Look for the WaterSense label to Using WaterSense labeled bathroom sink faucets or faucet choose quality, water-efficient accessories could save your family enough water each year to do products. 14 loads of laundry. OO If one out of every 100 American homes was retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, we could save about100 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year — avoiding 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. OO If 1 percent of American homes replaced an older toilet with a high-efficiency toilet, we would save more than 38 million kilowatt hours of electricity — enough to supply more than 43,000 households with electricity for one month.

4 three stages of green green basics green elements green systems

The first stage of green remodeling The second stage suggests green The third stage of green remodeling includes simple, inexpensive things ways to replace larger elements in describes how to incorporate large- you can easily do today to improve your home, such as appliances and scale, sustainable systems into your your home’s efficiency. windows, once they have reached the home when you undertake a major end of their useful life. remodeling project. Many of these ideas focus on things you routinely do anyway — such as If you’re planning a simple remodel, This section also include strategies replacing burned-out light bulbs — this section has some good ideas for for home additions. By considering but with a green twist. ways to incorporate green elements the surrounding environment, you into your plans. can put nature to work for you as you plan your green addition.

for your home and yard

5 green basics

LANDSCAPE WITH 4 1 LIGHT THE WAY NATIVE PLANTS WITH SOLAR POWER Landscape with flowers, shrubs, trees and Light walkways, patios and other grasses that are native to our area. Native outdoor spaces with photocell lights plants need less water and fertilizer, and that rely on solar power. are easier to maintain. Find a list of native plants at www.marc.org/Environment/ Water/native_plants_list.htm.

2 TUNE UP LAWN AND 5 USE RECYCLED MULCH GARDEN EQUIPMENT Many organic products — from lawn Keep engines tuned on all lawn clippings to coffee grounds — can equipment. When your mower is due help hold in moisture around trees for replacement, consider an electric and plants, either alone or mixed with model. On hot summer days, mow in traditional wood-chip mulch. the evening to reduce air pollution.

LIMIT CHEMICAL USE 3 WATER EARLY OR LATE 6 Limit the use of outdoor chemicals, Water your lawn in the early such as fertilizers and pesticides. morning or in the evening. Avoid Excess chemicals are washed into watering between 9 a.m. and storm drains that flow into rivers 6 p.m., especially in hot weather, and streams. to reduce water waste through evaporation.

for the yard 6 Your lawn care choices LAWN CHEMICALS affect more than your lawn.

SOLAR LIGHTING Stormwater runoff from rain or melting snow washes all sorts of substances — excess fertilizer, pesticides, pet waste, oil 3 and grease — into storm sewers that flow into streams and rivers. Unlike sanitary 2 sewers, the water from storm sewers isn’t treated before it goes into streams. 4 Polluted stormwater LAWN & GARDEN contaminates EQUIPMENT streams, rivers and 1 5 lakes, and can kill or damage plants, fish and wildlife. Help keep the water supply clean: RECYCLED MULCH NATIVE PLANTS • Before you fertilize, test your soil to find out what it really needs, and don’t 6 overfertilize. WATERING • Use lawn chemicals safely. Never apply before watering or rain unless directed. • Pick up after your pets. • Recycle used oil. MORE LAWN CARE BASICS • Sweep driveways and sidewalks clean to Instead of bagging the lawn clippings, let them compost in keep debris out of storm drains. place, right on the lawn. As the clippings decompose, they deter weeds and act as a natural fertilizer. • Wash your car at a car wash that filters wastewater or in a grassy area, not on Don’t mow too short. Keep your lawn’s height around three your driveway. inches. Longer grass will crowd out weeds, shade the soil to reduce water evaporation, and encourage your grass to • Never discard trash or yard waste down develop deeper roots. storm drains or in the street.

7 green basics

1 SWITCH TO COMPACT 4 USE ORGANIC COTTONS FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS Choose household linens made from Replace burnt-out incandescent bulbs organic cotton. Unlike ordinary cotton, with compact fluorescent bulbs that which is treated with a variety of last longer and use less energy. chemicals, organic cotton is grown Changing just five of the most- without synthetic pesticides and frequently used lights in your home fertilizers, hand-picked, and processed can save about $25–35 per year. with natural dyes and finishes.

MAKE ROOM FOR RECYCLING 2 KEEP INDOOR AIR CLEAN 5 Set aside bins to separate and Use high-quality air filters to capture collect recyclable materials, including dust, pollen and other pollutants. newspapers, office paper, plastic Keep filters clean and replace them bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard regularly. Common houseplants may and batteries. Check with your city or help keep indoor air clean, too. Studies www.recyclespot.org to find out what recommend one houseplant for every you can recycle and where. 100–150 square feet of living space.

3 ADD FAUCET AERATORS 6 USE NATURAL CLEANERS Add aerators to faucets to save Use environmentally safe cleaning water — and the energy used to heat products. Look for cleaners that are it — by reducing the flow from the labeled non-toxic and biodegradable. faucet. Choose aerators that restrict Avoid chlorine, phosphates and water flow to one gallon per minute in petroleum-based products. Get ideas bathroom sinks, and no more than two for safe alternatives at www.marc.org/ gallons per minute in the kitchen. environment/solidwaste/hhw/saferalt.htm. for the home 8 CFL BULBS ORGANIC COTTONS Weatherize your home to reduce heating and cooling costs. Sealing air leaks is WINDOW one of the quickest COVERINGS and least expensive 4 improvements you 1 can make to your 7 home’s energy efficiency. Test for leaks by INDOOR PLANTS holding a lit incense stick next to doors, windows, outlets 5 3 and other openings. 6 If the smoke stream travels horizontally, you may have an air leak.

• Caulk and weatherstrip around windows FAUCET and doors that leak air. AERATORS • Caulk and seal air leaks around plumbing and electrical wiring. 2 • Use rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls. RECYCLING NATURAL CLEANERS CONTAINERS • Make sure your attic has adequate insulation. • Keep fireplace flue dampers closed tightly when the fireplace is not in use. A fireplace plug — an inflatable 7 CONTROL LIGHT AND HEAT WITH polyurethane “pillow” that seals the WINDOW COVERINGS chimney flue — is easy to install, and can Thermal or insulated window coverings can significantly be quickly removed to light a fire. improve energy efficiency and comfort. Choose window • Change your furnace filter regularly, and coverings that put nature to work for you by taking advantage make sure that supply air registers and cold of natural light. In winter, open south-facing window coverings air return grills are clear of all obstructions during the day, and close all window coverings at night to so your heating and cooling system can retain heat inside. In summer, shade windows to help keep move and condition air most effectively. your home cool.

9 green elements USE A RAIN BARREL 1 CREATE A COMPOST BIN FOR ORGANIC WASTE Make a rain barrel to collect and store Almost any organic material is suitable for a compost pile, rainwater from downspouts and use it from grass clippings to banana peels. Over time, with help to water your lawn or garden. Using from earthworms and other organisms, a 55-gallon drum, a vinyl garden hose the organic matter you add to the 3 and some other common materials compost bin will decompose into a found at most hardware stores, you useful soil supplement. can create your own rain barrel. Place your compost pile or bin in a During the summer months, almost 40 level, shaded, well-drained area, away percent of household water is used for from trees. Keep the pile about as lawn and garden maintenance. Using moist as a well-wrung sponge and turn a rain barrel can lower your water the compost occasionally to aerate. bill and improve the vitality of plants, flowers, trees and When it turns into a dark, crumbly lawns. Learn how to create a rain barrel at www.marc.org/ humus, use it to enrich garden soil. environment/water/rainbarrels.htm.

CHOOSE AN EFFICIENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM GROW YOUR OWN PRODUCE IN AN URBAN GARDEN Drip or trickle irrigation systems An enormous amount of energy is used 2 are more efficient than sprayers 4 to transport food from distant farms to because they deliver water slowly the city and store and refrigerate it at and directly to the roots under the supermarkets. We compound the energy soil surface. This promotes deeper use by driving to buy our groceries and roots and a healthier lawn. If you returning home. use a sprinkler system, choose one Many fruits and vegetables are easy to that has a timer and sprays close to grow in a home garden or in containers. the ground. Even if you are not an expert gardener, For trees and shrubs, use soaker you can enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables hoses at the base of plants to water from your own garden and help the the root system rather than the environment, too. Learn more at leaves and reduce evaporation. www.urbangardeninghelp.com. for the yard 10 Landscape for winter sun and GARDENING summer shade COMPOSTING Strategically locating trees and shrubs with energy savings in mind can save heating 3 4 and cooling costs. • Plant deciduous trees — the kind that lose their leaves each year — on the southwest side of your home, about 20 feet away, to shade 1 the summer sun. • Plant trees on the north and northwest RAIN BARREL sides of your home to serve as winter 2 windbreaks. • If you plant trees on the south side, choose deciduous trees that will allow IRRIGATION winter sun to shine through bare branches onto south facing windows.

• Shading your air conditioner unit with shrubs — planted three to four feet away — can increase the unit’s efficiency by up to 10 percent.

THE RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT PLACE • Choose evergreens for foundation plantings to block drifting snow and Trees can be an excellent long-term improvement to your home. Before create dead air space that helps insulate you plant a tree, consider its overall size, shape and appearance, and your walls. choose a species that will thrive in our area. Avoid species that are known to be susceptible to ice damage or that have disease problems. • To keep the air cooler in summer, keep Visit www.righttreerightplace.com for advice from the Heartland Tree paved surfaces to a minimum, or locate Alliance on selecting, planting and caring for your trees. them where they will be shaded during the hottest parts of the day.

11 green elements

1 REPLACE WINDOWS 4 SEAL AND INSULATE When it’s time to replace your Air leaks can downgrade the effect windows, choose high-performance of insulation. Sealing the leaks windows that can save on heating and adding insulation will make and cooling costs. In the Kansas your home more comfortable and City region, look for a U-factor energy-efficient year round. Look for (heat-loss rating) below 0.40 and a insulations that include recycled or Solar Heat-Gain Coefficient (SHGC) bio-based content. less than 0.55.

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS ENERGY-SAVING APPLIANCES 2 AND CABINETS 5 When buying new appliances, look Use materials that have a high for the ENERGY STAR label. Be sure recycled content, but also consider to consider size, too. Don’t buy a durability. Cabinets can be made refrigerator or dishwasher that is larger from compressed plant material, than you need. If you choose natural gas like wheatboard or strawboard. For appliances for their efficiency, be sure counters, consider concrete, stone, they are well vented. glass tiles, wood or paper composite.

3 PLUMBING FIXTURES 6 FLOORING CHOICES If you need to replace pipes, Use certified woods for flooring. choose copper or consider PEX Bamboo is a durable, renewable tubing. When you install a new alternative to traditional woods. Look toilet, shower head or faucet, for carpets that are made from natural choose a low-flow model to fibers. In synthetics, choose carpet save water. that has high recycled content or is made with little petroleum.

for the home 12 INSULATION CHOOSING PAINT Paints, stains and other coatings are 4 the second largest source of polluting volatile organic compounds (VOCs), after WINDOWS automobiles. Paints also may contain toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Manufacturers aren’t 1 required to list all of the ingredients on paint labels, so to be sure you’re getting low-VOC, non-toxic paints, look for certifications such as the Green Seal label. 5 CHOOSING WOOD 2 3 Wood is a renewable resource, but not all wood comes from responsibly managed COUNTERS forests. Look for certifications such as the Forest Stewardship 6 Council (FSC) label on wood and paper products. PLUMBING FSC certification ensures that the product comes from forests managed in accordance with strict FLOORING APPLIANCES environmental and social standards.

Use materials that are: • clean or nonpolluting CONSTRUCTION WASTE • renewable As you complete your remodeling project — whether it’s as • abundant simple as a fresh coat of paint or as complex as a room addition • natural — be sure to dispose of construction waste responsibly. Recycle • made with recycled content as much as possible, and dispose of hazardous waste products • energy efficient safely. For more information on what to do with construction • locally obtained waste, visit www.recyclespot.org. • durable

13 green systems PROTECT STREAMS WITH 1 DESIGN LANDSCAPES THAT 3 NATURAL BUFFER ZONES NEED NO IRRIGATION If your property is adjacent to Xeriscape your lawn to save a stream, protect water quality on watering and maintenance. and wildlife with a natural buffer Xeriscaping refers to landscaping zone. Let native trees, grasses in ways that require no additional and shrubs grow naturally, with irrigation — using plants with little or no mowing, and without water requirements appropriate chemicals or pesticides. Stream to the local climate and designing buffers control erosion and help planting beds to avoid losing filter pollutants and sediment water to evaporation and runoff. that might otherwise impact Minimize turf areas to cut down water quality. on mowing, and use drought- tolerant grasses.

2 CREATE A RAIN GARDEN 4 USE PERMEABLE PAVING Plant a rain garden in a depression Consider permeable paving for — natural or dug —to capture and patios and driveways. Porous soak up stormwater runoff from pavement materials let air and your roof or other impervious areas water pass through, filtering around your home like driveways, pollutants on the spot and walkways and patios. reducing the “heat-island” effect Fill your rain garden with suitable of traditional asphalt and concrete trees, shrubs, flowers and other paving. Options include porous plants for a beautiful addition to aggregate, open-jointed blocks, your yard that helps protect pervious concrete and porous water quality. For more information, asphalt. Porous pavement generally visit www.rainkc.com. does not cost more, but it must be installed properly to be effective. for the yard 14 Create your own power with WIND ENERGY STREAM BUFFER solar shingles Solar power for the home doesn’t have to mean large — and sometimes unsightly — 5 solar collector panels on top of your roof. SOLAR SHINGLES 1 When it’s time to replace your roofing, PERMEABLE consider using solar shingles. At first PAVING glance, they look like regular asphalt shingles, but they contain photovoltaic cells that capture sunlight and transform it into energy. The energy generated by 2 solar shingles can provide power to your home or to a utility’s power grid. Solar shingles should be mounted in a south-facing location. The number of solar shingles to install depends on the size of 3 your home and how much electricity you want to generate. 4 Although upfront costs are higher, advanced solar systems should pay for themselves in savings in about five to RAIN GARDEN seven years.

XERISCAPING

5 WIND TURBINES In remote or rural locations, using a wind turbine may offer savings of more than 50 percent on electricity costs. Small wind electric systems are cost-effective and nonpolluting. Before installing wind turbines inside city limits, be sure to check your local zoning regulations.

15 green systems

1 HVAC SYSTEMS 3 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS When you install a new heating If you need to update your and cooling system, choose home’s electrical system, the highest efficiency model consider connecting to an you can afford. Make sure the alternative source of power such system is sized right for your as solar or wind energy. home, and be sure to seal the Even if you aren’t able to install duct work. Keep ducts clean, a solar system now, you may be and have your system checked able to make your home solar every two years to make sure ready during your renovation by it is still operating efficiently. adding an empty, sealed conduit Check with local utility that runs from the electrical panel companies to find out if they to the roof. This conduit will be offer incentives for installing available for wiring when you do high-efficiency systems. add solar panels in the future.

HOT WATER HEATERS 2 DEMOLITION Replace a worn-out water heater You can help the environment by 4 with an ENERGY STAR-rated tank. minimizing the amount of waste Or consider an even more efficient generated during your remodeling tankless or solar water heating project. By planning your remodel system. Tankless (on demand) carefully and removing materials to water heaters do not store hot retain their value (deconstructing water, so there is no stand-by heat rather than demolishing), you loss — but they may not be viable can increase the likelihood that for whole house use. Solar water materials can be reused. heaters are very efficient, but may Donate usable materials to Habitat be costly to install. Whatever type ReStore (www.restorekc.org). you choose, get the right size system for your home and use. for the home 16 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS Adding on? Plan now to save energy later. If your remodeling project involves a room addition, you have the opportunity to incorporate energy-saving options into your design from the beginning. Place your addition to take advantage of natural light and reduce the need for electric light. Use passive 3 solar strategies to help with heating and HOT WATER cooling costs. 1 HEATER Use large, south-facing windows for light 2 and heat in the winter. To shade the windows in the summer, consider awnings 4 or overhangs, or plant deciduous trees where summer foliage will offer shade. HVAC SYSTEMS Natural ventilation can also help with cooling DECONSTRUCT, costs. Install operable windows on the east REUSE AND RECYCLE and west sides of your addition to allow air to flow naturally. Doorways with transoms or louvered vents can help air flow from one CONDUCT AN ENERGY AUDIT room to another. Before you begin any renovation project or system upgrade, it’s a good idea Whole-house fans and ceiling fans can be to conduct a comprehensive energy audit. A professional analyst can evaluate used to supplement natural air flow. your home and prioritize improvement strategies based on fact, not guesswork. Energy-efficient improvements often enhance the durability, comfort and air quality of a home. The Metropolitan Energy Center, www.kcenergy.org, can help you locate a trained energy auditor or contractor. Many local utilities also provide services that will help you evaluate your home.

17 green contracting

Some remodeling projects are easy to do yourself, but others may require professional help. To find an environmentally responsible contractor, ask friends and neighbors for references and check online resources:

The Green Building Certification Institute • www.gbci.org

The U.S. Green Building Council provides this online directory of professionals certified in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

National Association of the Remodeling Industry • www.nari.org

NARI provides a directory of member contractors that have gone through an extensive screening process and agree to abide by NARI’s code of ethics.

When you choose a contractor for green remodeling, start with the basic questions you would ask any contractor about their skills, experience, licensing and references. Then ask specific questions related to green remodeling: OO Do you have any experience with green remodeling or sustainable design? Work with your contractor to: OO What is your interest in green building? What are your areas of expertise? l plan your project OO What memberships and certifications do you hold? l develop a budget OO What materials will you use? Where do they come from? What is their recycled content? l agree on a schedule OO What will happen with construction waste? How much will be reused or recycled?

18 remodel checklist green where will you go green?

yard basics yard elements yard systems o native plants o rain barrel o stream buffer o solar-powered lighting o efficient irrigation o rain garden o lawn equipment o urban gardening o xeriscape o recycled mulch o composting o permeable paving o limited chemical use o locating plants and shrubs for o solar shingles o watering early or late sun and shade home elements home systems home basics o HVAC systems o CFL bulbs o replacement windows o hot water heater o recycling o efficient appliances o electrical systems o faucet aerators o plumbing fixtures o wind power o organic cottons o added insulation o demolition o indoor plants o countertops and cabinets o ventilation o natural cleaners o sustainable flooring o orientation o weatherization o certified wood o low-VOC paint o construction waste

19 shop sustainably

When you buy materials for your remodeling project — and when you shop for everyday items — consider the entire life cycle of LOOK FOR LABELS LIKE THESE: each product: The ENERGY STAR label RESOURCE MATERIALS identifies appliances and Think about what materials went into the product. other products that meet Is it made with renewable resources, like organic government standards for cottons, and FSC-certified wood? Was the material energy efficiency. grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers? The Water Sense label identifies products and MANUFACTURING programs that meet EPA Was the product manufactured in an water efficiency and environmentally responsible manner? Buy from performance standards. businesses that minimize waste and limit pollution in the manufacturing process. The Green Seal label marks products that meet independent standards TRANSPORTATION for performance and Buy locally to reduce the energy needed to environmental responsibility. transport goods to market. When you shop, combine small errands into one trip and carry your Forest Stewardship Council purchases in reusable shopping bags. certification identifies wood and paper products from DISPOSAL forests managed under strict environmental standards. When you buy something new, think about how long it will last and how you will eventually dispose of it when it has outlived its usefulness. Is it easily Look for products that have a recyclable, or can it be reused? Before you dispose high post-consumer recycled of waste, look into recycling and reuse options. Be content and can be recycled sure to dispose of hazardous waste safely. after use.

20 online resources

10,000 Rain Gardens Kansas City Power & Light www.rainkc.com Energy Efficiency Programs www.kcpl.com/residential/hee.html American Public Works Association (Kansas City Metro Chapter) Best Management Low-Impact Living Practices Manual www.lowimpactliving.com www.kcapwa.net/kcmetro/ Specifications.asp Mid-America Regional Council Environmental Programs Bridging the Gap www.marc.org/environment www.bridgingthegap.org Metropolitan Energy Center Compost Guide www.kcenergy.org www.compostguide.org National Association of Home Builders Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Green Building Program www.eere.energy.gov www.nahbgreen.org

ENERGY STAR National Association of the Remodeling www.energystar.gov Industry (NARI) www.nari.org The nationally recognized First Suburbs EPA Watersense www.remodelingkc.com Coalition Idea Book for updating Post-World www.epa.gov/watersense War II homes was published in 2005. The book Recycle Spot examines four of the most common housing First Suburbs Coalition www.recyclespot.org types found in Kansas City’s first suburbs — www.marc.org/firstsuburbs Ranch, Split Level, Two Story, and Cape Cod U.S. Green Building Council — and provides dozens of ideas for appropriate The Green Home Guide www.usgbc.org ways to update and make additions to them. www.greenhomeguide.org www.usgbckansascity.org The 40-page, folio-sized book offers color Habitat for Humanity ReStore illustrations of each housing type and the www.restorekc.org elements which can be renovated or added. The book also addresses windows, doors and Heartland Utilities for Energy Efficiency garages, as well as other basics of exterior www.huee.org appearance. Energy efficiency, financing and universal design are discussed, along with a Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas section of guidelines for selecting and working City (Resources for Contractors) with reliable contractors. www.kchba.org Order the Idea Book online ($10 plus shipping) at www.marc.org/firstsuburbs.

21 600 Broadway, Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64105 816/474-4240 www.marc.org