Can This Home Be Greened? Earth-Friendly Expansion
(Page 2 of 3)
January/February 2008
By Matthew Morris
Cost: Approximately $1,500 per window, installed.
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2. Upgrade the insulation
Problem: The home’s exterior walls are poorly insulated, and air leaks out around doors and windows.
Solution: Recycled-content cellulose insulation can be blown into the uninsulated wall cavities and attic. In the addition, the couple can add nontoxic recycled-denim insulation during construction. After the new addition is complete, Ann and Michael should hire an Energy Star contractor to evaluate the home’s airtightness and seal any leaks.
Cost: Blown-in cellulose insulation: $1 per square foot. UltraTouch recycled-cotton insulation: $1 to $2 per square foot, depending on its R factor. Energy Star blower door test and audit: $350.
3. Overhaul the heating system
Problem: The house’s original, oil-fired boiler was inefficient and expensive to maintain. One morning Ann found a thin film of black dust on the furniture and realized the boiler had experienced a “puff back” that spread soot throughout their home.
Solution: It was more cost-effective—and less risky—to replace the old boiler than to repair it. Not wanting to risk another sooty malfunction, Ann and Michael chose a sealed-combustion boiler with electronically controlled gas pressure to keep the output constant. The new boiler is cleaner and sized appropriately to heat their more energy-efficient home.
Cost: New boiler (installed): $5,000.
4. Improve the shabby flooring
Problem: The existing hardwood floors are worn, and the stairway carpet is threadbare. The attached cement-floor garage is drafty, so it’s used for storage instead of more living space.