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.