Can This Home Be Greened? Staying Put in New Jersey

(Page 4 of 4)

January/February 2006
By Robert Politzer 
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To ensure that your contractor actually uses zero- or low-VOC products, I strongly recommend that you or your architect provide a set of written specifications to the contractor and that these specifications be referenced in the contract.

RELATED CONTENT

RX at your house (bring the wisdom home)

• Water Leaks: Water means death to a home when it’s not properly controlled. Stop all leaks into or within the home immediately and keep water draining away from the house. Consider making your driveway into part of your lawn, or at least using porous materials that allow for better drainage.

• Roof Insulation: When appropriately designed and effectively installed, energy-efficiency measures should create a 20 to 30 percent return on investment over your home’s life. If nothing else, increase roof insulation; like a warm winter hat, it will significantly improve energy performance. Demand that your installation contractor use a formaldehyde-free product.

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: It’s contradictory to tear up a functional wood floor that simply needs sanding and refinishing and to replace it with a “green” material shipped across the globe. Wood floors can and should last for many decades when properly maintained. If carpet was laid over the wood floor and there are numerous deep cuts and holes, a new, sustainable flooring material such as bamboo, cork, or linoleum would be second best.

• Watch those VOCs: The cocktail of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that’s unleashed into homes during renovations can remain for months after construction. There are healthier, good-quality alternatives to toxic paints, polyurethanes, caulks, and adhesives. Require—in writing—that your contractor do the right thing.

Robert Politzer is president of GreenStreet Construction and Consulting in New York and is a LEED-accredited professional.

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