Published: July 25, 2008 10:24 pm         

EPA helps homeowners go ‘green’

Want your house value to increase as much as 25 percent? Go green! Instead of purchasing new homes, people are renovating their homes using eco-friendly materials.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that by utilizing green materials such as skylights, EnergyStar appliances, programmable thermostats and low-flow faucets, owners are adding value to their homes. While the green materials may be more expensive to buy and install, in the long run the owners save on utility bills, and if they decide to sell at a later date, their house will sell for more than non-green homes.

Little renovations such as planting shade trees can cut air conditioning costs by 15 to 50 percent. If a person is building an addition to their home, they can use “sustainable” wood materials such as river wood, managed or certified forest wood, reclaimed or salvaged wood, and standing dead timbers.

River wood consists of retrieved logs and pilings from decades- or century-old piers and logs that have been lost by loggers many years before.

The majority of today’s lumber is being extracted from managed or certified forests where new trees are planted to replace the trees that are cut. These forests also protect the wildlife.

Wood taken from old barns, houses and dilapidated buildings is reclaimed or salvaged wood.

Trees destroyed by fires, diseases, drought and other causes are categorized as standing dead timbers.

Adobe floors are an eco-friendly way to install floors. Adobe materials are created from the earth’s base and are refurbished to suit human needs. Adobe floors are arid, lasting and well-insulated. They also retain heat and then release heat overnight.

Another popular eco-friendly renovation method is solar power. Lots of people are using solar panels on their roofs to use for up to 100 percent of the household energy needed. Whatever is not used can be siphoned back to the community’s power grid. While the installation may cost owners a pretty penny, there are tax deductions in some vicinities that are available to owners.

— E-mail: amorici@register-herald.com