Can This Home Be Greened? Earth-Friendly Expansion

(Page 3 of 3)

January/February 2008
By Matthew Morris 
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Solution: Instead of replacing the wood floors, Ann and Michael can sand and reseal them with a low-VOC finish. A durable new runner made of undyed wool fibers and low-toxic adhesives should hold up to heavy stair traffic. The couple could make the garage a functional exercise and play area by insulating the walls and installing a cushioned, recycled-rubber floor surface.

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Cost: Water-based polyurethane wood sealer: $2 per square foot. Wool carpet: $12 per square foot, installed. EcoSurfaces recycled-rubber flooring tiles: $11 to 16 per square foot, installed.

5. Fix the bathroom fixtures

Problem: Adding new bathrooms will alleviate space issues, but Ann and Michael are concerned about maximizing their water efficiency.

Solution: The new bathroom should include a dual-flush toilet and low-flow fixtures. They can add faucet aerators and a low-flow showerhead to the existing bathroom and, within the next few years, replace the toilet with a water-saving model. To reduce the family’s exposure to chemicals from the municipal water supply, they should install chlorine filters for the showerheads and consider a whole-home filtration system.

Cost: Water-saving showerhead: $10 to $50 depending on model. Dual-flush toilet: $400. Showerhead chlorine filter: $20. Whole-house water filtration system (custom designed, installed): $5,000. Self-installed Aquasana Whole-House Water Filter: $1,100 (www.AquasanaStore.com)   

Matthew Morris is a sustainability consultant with New York City’s Deep Green Living (www.DeepGreenLiving.com), which helps clients make their living spaces healthier and more environmentally friendly.

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  • Karen 1/2/2008 12:00:00 AM

    Very informative and interesting article!

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