5 Common-Sense Ways to Get a Greener Home Design

You don't need fancy systems or elaborate schemes to make your home energy efficient and sustainable. You just need to choose wisely

Anne Higuera CGR, CAPS August 20, 2013

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Going green with your home design project is a decision made by degrees, with layers of opportunities to choose materials and methods that will yield improved energy efficiency, sustainability and functionality. It's a commitment with a potentially great outcome that involves research, diligence and often additional funds. But even basic green measures can make a difference in how many resources your home consumes — in the building of it and in the long term. Here are five things to keep in mind as you plan your project.

Portal Design Inc

1. Only build as much space as you will use. Limiting the space you build will go a long way toward saving money on the immediate and future costs of your project. Aside from the cost savings of building a smaller space, you will realize the long-term savings in heating, cooling and cleaning. Think through whether you really need that extra bedroom, extra bath and extra sink. How often will they be used? If they’re for infrequent guests or occasional parties, you may want to rethink the extra square footage.

SEED Homes

2. Buy high-efficiency appliances. Look for the Energy Star label on dishwashers, fridges, lighting fixtures and more. If you have a refrigerator that’s 20 years old, you may be surprised by how much you can save by purchasing a new energy-efficient one and saying goodbye to the old one. Home- and water-heating appliances also come in high- and higher-efficiency options. Heating appliances that are 90 percent efficient or better can vent with horizontal vents, rather than vertical. These vents are more versatile and a money saver in the long term. Many energy-efficient appliances also come with rebates.

Buckminster Green LLC

3. Insulate, and then maybe insulate some more. In cold climates insulate fully with formaldehyde-free fiberglass batt insulation to local building code requirements. You may have room to insulate more, depending on the size of your attic. You can also substitute more expensive rigid insulation or foam-in products to increase the R-value (a measurement of insulation effectiveness). You can also consider blow-in cellulose insulation, or net and blow — cellulose is blown into netting from inside walls.

Another option: Installing rigid insulation to the exterior of your home adds to the R-value but also means deeper jambs at windows. This limits the transmission of heat from inside your home through the walls and framing. Consult your contractor about the best and most effective means and methods of insulating based on your climate and the house you're planning. Insulation, ventilation and water vapor management are all connected, so using the correct materials is essential for a good result.

Ecofriendly insulation options

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4. Use materials that will last. We have removed our share of low-quality, poorly installed and dated materials from a wide variety of homes in Seattle. Each decade has its own hallmark dated finishes: The '80s oak cabinets, the '70s laminated cabinets with avocado-colored fridge, and the ubiquitous pink or green '50s bathroom tiles are so distinctive, they show their age.

Choose well-vetted materials that will hold up well to use and are unlikely to go out of style. This will ensure that your remodel lasts for decades. Try to find a local company that accepts salvaged building materials, so what you remove from your home does not go to the landfill. Salvage companies are often nonprofits that can offer a tax credit for your donation.

Kenny Craft, CNU LEED AP

5. Buy locally produced materials. You may feel tempted to search far and wide for the material you want. Do the math before you have material shipped across the country or across the world for your project. There are often locally produced materials that will serve the intended purpose and may be more interesting.

In Seattle a couple of companies harvest in-city trees that are slated for removal for one reason or another, and then mill them into slabs suitable for furniture, mantels or other purposes. That kind of locally sourced material is not only beautiful but also comes with a good story to tell once your project is complete!

More: Look to the Sun for More of Your Home's Lighting