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"Nice to
Have" for a Home to Be Remodeled Green
The More of These Features You Have, the Better
Less Expensive to Remodel to Be Green and Healthy |
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Hard-Surfaced Floors: Carpeting is not
healthy and is somewhat expensive to replace.
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| Large roof overhangs:
These protect your home from sunlight and rainwater.
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| Mature trees on west and southwest:
Trees shade your home from the harsh and hot sunlight of the west
and southwest. Yes, you can plant them but they take time to
mature. In the meantime, you will have some sizable utility bills
unless you can block that sun. Of course, if there is no sun on
those windows in the first place, mature trees make life
beautiful!
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| Casement windows that open
correctly: Windows open to catch the prevailing breezes. |
| Any source of alternative
energy. |
| Sunlight: Naturally
bright homes have lower utility bills and are more enjoyable than
dark homes. |
| South facing windows:
South windows should be shaded in the spring, summer, and fall. In
the winter, the sun will warm your home. |
| North facing windows:
North Windows allow light without allowing sun after 10 am in the
morning all year. |
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Few windows on the east
unless shaded after 10 am in the morning: East
sun can be blocked with remodeling.
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| Low-pitched roofs:
High pitched roofs are expensive to cure of the Hot Texas Attic
Syndrome and do not protect windows from rain. |
| Energy Star or LEED-H
certified.
Unfortunately, an
Energy Star rated home does not make it a green home. It takes more
than energy savings to make a green home. By the same token, LEED
certified buildings apparently exist which are not energy-efficient.
But, yes, either certification is nice to find. |
| Metal Ductwork. |
| Roofing other than asphalt
shingles. |
| A relatively new HVAC system:
Extra points for a high SEER air-conditioner. |
| Ductwork that is in
conditioned space. |
| Rainwater harvesting system.
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| Porch on south or southeast: Will
catch prevailing warm weather breezes. Being blocked from the
north winds and warmed by the sun will make the porch useable in
cooler weather, too. And you have the beginning of a good outdoor
room. |
| Screened porch on the south
or southeast: A great bug-free room for this area. |