Eco-Remodelers

I’ve been reading a lot of blogs on the green movement lately. Some are purely green sites and some just happen to have a post or two on green remodeling or a green building subject.

One thing I’ve noticed is some green blogs advocate a completely radical change or else we’re all doing no good whatsoever. Other sites might suggest that you should do what can, when you can, and if you can.  Every little bit helps, right?

I’m somewhere in the middle, I guess.

Part of me screams that things are so bad with global warming that I need to completely eliminate my carbon footprint or the entire planet is doomed. The more rational part tells me that I need to do what I can and that I need to keep doing more as I learn more. And that I need to document it all in this blog so that maybe others can follow along. And maybe be motivated to make changes themselves.

I don’t advocate The-Sky-Is-Falling approach to green renovation. I think this would scare too many people away. The giant wave that is the “green movement” right now is very important, but we need to make sure the wave doesn’t knock people over or send them running.

Not sure what you can do to make your home more green? I say do what you can, but don’t feel overwhelmed. Start with baby steps. Those who want radical changes and immediate legislation are barking up the wrong tree. Yes, we need leadership from our government and we need more incentives to go green. But to force people into making big green leaps will only cause confusion and a create a backlash that will ruin the work done so far (and to come in the future.)

Baby steps.

Do what you can but… you must do something. And you must start as soon as possible. The sky isn’t falling yet but we’re starting to see some serious cracks in it.

Going shopping for bamboo flooring for the dining room and office this weekend. I think I’ve found a few good deals at Lumber Liquidators that I need to check out.

I’ve been shopping for a lot of eco-friendly products to check availability and pricing. I’ve noticed that it’s not very easy to find a green alternative to regular products. When I ask salespeople about it, I’ve been getting a lot of the same reactions…  that look (or even the comment) that says, “Oh, you’re one of those hippie liberals.” As noted, it happened when I was carpet shopping and it happened again at Sears, Home Depot, Lowes, and a few others this past week.

The thing I’m not sure how it ever happened, but wanting to protect your family and wanting to save money became a political issue.

When we lived in our house back in Los Angeles, it was a sixty year old home that had been built very well. Plaster on the walls, a good sturdy foundation, and great wood floors. Sure it had drafty single-pane windows and very little insulation, but it was made by people who cared.

In the past twenty or thirty years, homes were made on the cheap. Cheap counters, cheap cabinets, construction grade products throughout. And whatever was the code at the time, the houses usually just met those minimum requirements (which are never enough.) People stopped caring and started worrying about their quarterly profits.

Now that I want to conserve (energy, money, time) that makes me a liberal. A conservative liberal? Hmm. I wish we could get people away from the belief that only a hippy wants a greener home. That only a hippy wants to save money on electricity. Or prevent toxic gases from poisoning their children from cabinets, paint, adhesives, etc. that are all through homes today.

Perhaps there’s another word we can use in place of “green”? Like smart. I want to remodel my home to make it a smart home. Or safe. Or thrifty. But I think we’re stuck with green and we’re going to have a lot of ignorant, close-minded people who will refuse to help themselves and their families because it doesn’t seem to align with their political beliefs…

It’s a real shame.

Well, we’re almost ready to start work on our new smart/green/thrifty/safe home. We close today. Soon, I’ll be able to post on how to do a lot of these green projects in your own home.

What is a CFL? It stands for Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs.

I wanted to let you know that this is a great way to save money. Change out the incandescent bulbs in your house with a CFL bulb and you could save $30 to $50 over the life of the bulb in energy costs.

It’s real simple to do. I’m not quite sure why more people aren’t doing it. You simply pick out the correct wattage of bulb at any store and swap out the old bulbs in your lighting fixture. These bulbs cost a bit more but… when you change out all the ones in your house, you will notice a difference on your electric bill. Trust me.

So, to find out why more people aren’t using these little gems, I asked a few of my neighbors.

Turns out there are a LOT of myths and misconceptions about CFL bulbs. And I’m here to bust a few of them for you:

• The Light Looks Funny/Flickers/Buzzes: Not any more. There are a ton of varieties of bulbs now. They don’t flicker or buzz. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The light looks very close to incandescent bulbs and you’ll get used to whatever slight change you perceive in a few days.

• They Contain Mercury and Are Dangerous: Each CFL bulb has 1/5 less mercury than a watch battery and 1/100 of your tooth filling. If one breaks, it’s important to recycle it and treat it as hazardous waste. Go to Earth 911 to find a recycling place in your area — and the good news is that all Home Depot stores will now recycle for you.

• The Mercury Makes Worse Than Incandescent Bulbs: Mmm. No. Most of the mercury released into our atmosphere comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels. By using a product, like an incandescent bulb (which requires 75% more energy to use!) you are putting 75% more mercury into the air.

• CFLs are Made in China - The Shipping Pollutes the Earth: The majority of all light bulbs are made in China. Buying local is great, if it’s an option. But the choice between two bulbs made in China where one saves you money and saves the planet, well… the choice is easy. Besides, the CFL bulbs last much longer, so you’ll have to buy fewer of them.

Suggested Reading:

Snopes Busts CLF Myth

Energy Star CLF Page

Let me know if you have any questions about CFL bulbs or if you need help with the installation.