Ten Earth-friendly options to consider if remodeling
October 21, 2007
PATH, the public-private partnership that highlights and tries to test and popularize new building technologies, released its first Top 10 remodeling technologies listing in October.As you may remember, PATH ( www.pathnet.org) is the government-sponsored Public-Private Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology, charged with advancing building science and housing affordability.
The organization is usually concerned with new housing technology. The release of the Top 10 remodeling technologies is recognition of just how important the remodeling sector has become.
I have already written about many of the technologies. However, I am going to give a complete listing here, and fill in a little about some of the technologies that we have not yet discussed as well as point out which you should, or should not be considering for your next remodeling project.
Here is PATH’s Top 10 remodeling list:
1. Air-sealing with spray-foam insulation. Air-sealing with spray foam insulation technology is a little different than what we usually talk about. A cementitious foam like Air-Krete, ( www.airkrete.com) can be blown or formed through a membrane, which keeps it within specific framing members. The same product can be sprayed from the exterior into existing walls.
Air-Krete has an R-value of 3.9 in walls. Cellulose, the more commonly used technology is rated at 3.7.
The cementitious product is non-toxic, fireproof and vermin-proof and made entirely of magnesium oxide and air. Cellulose uses additives that bring it up to much the same specifications. The product is very good, but certainly not so overwhelming that a homeowner would go out of their way to get it unless he or she had definite reasons for not wanting to use cellulose insulation.
2. Smart Vent ventilation control systems, www.smartvent.net, create new ways to control the ventilation of a crawlspace. Smart Vent is an electronic ventilator with state-of the-art temperature, humidity and moisture sensing of crawlspace and outside air.
The on-board computer continuously monitors outside and crawlspace air. If the air outside is drier, it pumps in the fresh dry air. If not, the fans stay off. If you are interested, check out the company Web site and e-mail them at sales@smartvent.net.
3. HVAC sizing, the proper sizing of heating and cooling elements is something I write about all the time. Check my old articles at www.masterhandyman.com for an in-depth discussion.
4. High-efficiency toilets. Check my recent article on the latest toilet ratings. PATH is very excited about the dual flush-capable toilets, which use less water flushing urine than solid waste.
It’s a cool idea but not something that would make you want to buy a new toilet.
5. Compact-florescent lighting, CFLs, was the subject of a recent column. Everybody is getting on the bandwagon. Within a few years most of our lighting will be CFL or other cutting-edge technology.
6. High-performance windows and doors are a favorite topic of mine. If you need to know anything about the subject, go to my help site and type “windows” in the search engine.
7. Wireless lighting, thermostats and other controls. Wireless technology is the new buzzword for cutting-edge electronics. They make the wiring job a whole lot simpler by eliminating it. If you are going to do a lighting project or install a new thermostat go to www.pathnet.org and click on “remodelers,” then go to the Top 10 listing and click on either “lighting” or “thermostats.”
8. Solar water heaters. Eventually, every roof will have solar collectors of some kind or other. But for now, if you really want a solar water heater you need to go someplace with a lot of sun. Even then you need a conventional water heater as a backup. This technology does not presently make economic sense for us in the Midwest.
9. Recycled/renewable flooring options. Some people want to pay extra for old wood. Availability is limited. I wrote about bamboo and cork years ago. These are still the primary renewable options. Eucalyptus, a fast-growing Australian tree, is now being grown in California and South America.
I don’t know about eucalyptus, but bamboo and cork are among my favorite flooring options and available at most good flooring stores.
10. Tubular skylights. I wrote my first article about them in 1998. Not much has changed since.
They are more economical and give more light than regular skylights, but for some reason have never caught on like they should. … Solatube, www.solatube.com … are the big guns in this technology. Go to the company Web sites for local dealers.
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