CAMBRIDGE, MA – October 15, 2009

The declines in owner spending on home improvements will moderate through the end of 2009 and first half of 2010 according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The indicator suggests the remodeling industry is turning a corner. Annual spending levels should start to rise in the beginning of next year causing year over year declines to shrink to 8.9 percent by the second quarter of 2010.

“Remodeling spending by homeowners shows early signs of stabilization,” says Nicolas P. Retsinas, director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. “While the housing recovery has been erratic, a strengthening economy could produce spending increases on home improvement projects by the second quarter of next year.”

Some positive signs for the industry are emerging. “Favorable financing costs – for those households with access to credit – and a pickup in homes sales are producing more opportunities for home improvement projects,” says Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies. Several factors, however, still impede remodeling growth. “A generally weak housing market with unstable prices, near record levels of foreclosures, and other distressed sales are discouraging households from undertaking nonessential remodeling projects.”

The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) is designed to estimate national homeowner spending on improvements for the current quarter and subsequent three quarters. The indicator, measured as an annual rate-of-change of its components, provides a short-term outlook of homeowner remodeling activity and is intended to help identify future turning points in the business cycle of the home improvement industry. The development of the LIRA is detailed in “Developing a Leading Indicator for the Remodeling Industry” (JCHS Research Note N07-1). In July 2008, the LIRA was re-benchmarked due to changes in the underlying reference series. These changes are explained in “Addendum to Research Note N07-1: Re-Benchmarking the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity” (JCHS Research Note N08-1). The LIRA is released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University in the third week after each quarter’s closing. The next LIRA release date is January 21, 2010.

The Remodeling Futures Program, initiated by the Joint Center for Housing Studies in 1995, is a comprehensive study of the factors influencing the growth and changing characteristics of housing renovation and repair activity in the United States. The Program seeks to produce a better understanding of the home improvement industry and its relationship to the broader residential construction industry.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies is Harvard University’s center for information and research on housing in the United States. Established in 1959, it is a collaborative unit affiliated with the Graduate School of Design and the Harvard Kennedy School. The Joint Center analyzes the dynamic relationships between housing markets and economic, demographic, and social trends, providing leaders in government, business, and the non-profit sector with the knowledge needed to develop effective policies and strategies. For more information, please visit www.jchs.harvard.edu.

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Listen to our Greenovation segment on the Environment Report on NPR

Even as the ice cream melts on your countertop and the fire hydrants are whistling for the dogs, there is a way to keep your house cool without using your air conditioner.  Stick a big ass fan in your attic.  A whole-house fan can save you some serious money and still keep you comfortable.

So you’re turning in for the night and the thermostat reads 80 degrees.  But the outside temperature has dropped to 68.  You’re just throwing money away if you turn on the a/c just to cool your house to 72.

Why use a whole house fan?

A whole house fan is a simple and inexpensive method of cooling your house. The fan draws cool outdoor air inside through open windows and exhausts hot indoor air through the attic to the outside.  Running a whole house fan whenever outdoor temperatures are lower than indoor temperatures will cool your house.

In summer, the air inside a home is heated during the hot part of the day. During the morning, late evening, and night, the outside air is often cooler and can be used to replace the inside air.  As daytime temperatures rise, the whole house fan can be turned off.

What are the benefits?

A whole house fan can be used as the sole means of cooling or to reduce the need for air conditioning. If both methods of cooling are present, seasonal use of the whole house fan (during spring and fall) may yield the optimum combination of comfort and cost.

Costs less to buy

• Purchase cost for a whole house fan = $150 – $650
• Purchase cost for a window unit a/c = $250 – $800
• Purchase cost of central a/c = $2,500 – $7,000

Costs less to operate

You lose money every time you turn on the a/c when you can bring in cooler outside temperatures for practically free.

• Central a/c = $0.15 – $0.43 per hour
• Window a/c = $0.18 – $0.52 per hour
• Whole house fan = a penny to a nickel per hour

Drawbacks

A whole house fan does a great job of bringing in cool outside air.  But, it can also bring in humidity, dust and pollen (and of course the smell of your friendly neighborhood skunk – but that’s how you know your fan is working) .  If you suffer from allergies, you can install allergy screens in your windows and still benefit from a whole house fan.

Selecting a whole house fan

• FAN SPEED. A two-speed fan permits the entire house to be ventilated quickly on high speed (such as when the occupants first arrive at home) and then provides gentle air circulation at the lower, quieter speed. A variable speed unit offers more flexibility in selecting the desired air movement.

• CONTROL OPTIONS. Control may be a simple on/off pull or wall switch, a multi-speed rotary wall switch, or a timer that automatically shuts off the fan at pre-selected time intervals.

• LOUVERS. Dampers or louvers typically operate automatically whenever the fan is on. Motorized dampers are available but are not necessary if the louvers are correctly installed and maintained.

• MOTOR MOUNTS AND NOISE. A direct drive unit has its fan blades attached directly to the motor shaft. This type of unit is usually less expensive to buy and operates at a higher speed than its belt-driven counterpart. A belt-driven unit typically features a motor driving a slowermoving, larger-diameter fan with four or more blades. It may be quieter, but will require maintenance of the pulley and belt.

Sizing a whole house fan

Determining the amount of airflow in cubic feet per minute (cfm) that the whole house fan should provide involves a simple calculation. Multiply the total gross square footage of the house (include upstairs area) by the ceiling height (typically 8 feet). Select a fan that delivers between one-half to one time that amount of cfm at 0.1″ static pressure. For example, a 25′ x 40′ one-story home is 1,000 square feet and would need an 8 x 1,000 x 1/2 = 4,000 cfm fan or better. A two-speed unit that delivers 4,500 cfm at the high setting (240 watts) and 3,200 cfm at low (120 watts) should be adequate.

Whole House Fan Installation – Do It Yourself

USE “H” BRACKETS TO PROVIDE PROPER SUPPORT. When installing a whole house fan, be sure to provide proper support and seal the unit into the rough opening in the ceiling. Never cut a truss chord; wooden “H” brackets installed between the trusses create a framed box to raise the fan above the truss system. The louvers must be able to open and close freely and care must be taken to prevent binding or misalignment. A fan with a 34″ base (30″ blade) will work with the dimensions shown in the diagram at left.

BUILD AN ATTIC-SIDE BOX COVER. A typical whole house fan has a 30″ diameter blade with a sheet metal cowling of 31″ to allow for blade clearance. An attic-side box cover may be constructed from a 4′ x 4′ piece of 1″ rigid fiberglass duct board. The box will be 33″ square with 1″ thick walls (inside dimension of 31″ x 31″). It will be 61/2″ deep. Adjust dimensions to actual fan size.

Note:  For a bit more money, you can find models with motorized automatic insulated doors to provide an air tight seal between the attic and living area when the unit is not in operation.

TIPS AND CONCERNS

Seal penetrations and vent attic.  Caulk all penetrations between the attic and living space, such as electrical boxes for ceiling light fixtures, loose attic hatches, large cutouts for plumbing vents, exposed beams, and recessed lights. A whole house fan creates a positive pressure in the attic; it is important that air from the attic is not forced back into the living space through cracks and gaps.

A guideline for sufficient attic vent area is one square foot of net-free vent area per 750 cfm of fan airflow. Continuous ridge and soffit vents are usually more than adequate. Vents with insect screens may have a net-free area equivalent to one-half of the total open area, depending upon the size of the holes in the screen area. Insulation should be installed directly against the fan box frame. Blown-in insulation may require the sides of the fan box to be raised (with baffles) to prevent interference.

AVOID BACKDRAFTS. Care should be taken to avoid backdrafting combustion appliances that are installed in the conditioned space. It is strongly recommended that combustion appliances NOT be installed in such a manner that they use room air for combustion. A whole house fan is capable of pulling large quantities of air from the home and, particularly if not enough windows are open, may easily backdraft a water heater located inside a louvered closet door.

Whole House Fan (PDF: 236k)

Click here to find where to buy a whole house fan

Article adapted from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Building Technologies Program. and Southface Energy Institute

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From McKinsey.com

In this report, McKinsey & Company offers a detailed analysis of the magnitude of the efficiency potential in non-transportation uses of energy, a thorough assessment of the barriers that impede the capture of greater efficiency, and an outline of the practical solutions available to unlock the potential.

The research shows that the U.S. economy has the potential to reduce annual non-transportation energy consumption by roughly 23 percent by 2020, eliminating more than $1.2 trillion in waste – well beyond the $520 billion upfront investment (not including program costs) that would be required. The reduction in energy use would also result in the abatement of 1.1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions annually – the equivalent of taking the entire U.S. fleet of passenger vehicles and light trucks off the roads.

Such energy savings will be possible, however, only if the United States can overcome significant sets of barriers. These barriers are widespread and persistent, and will require an integrated set of solutions to overcome them – including information and education, incentives and financing, codes and standards, and deployment resources well beyond current levels.

In addition to the above central conclusion, five observations will be relevant to a national debate about how best to pursue energy efficiency opportunities of the magnitude identified and within the timeframe considered in this report. Specifically, an overarching strategy would need to:

	Recognize energy efficiency as an important energy resource that can help meet future energy needs while the nation concurrently develops new no- and low-carbon energy sources
	Formulate and launch at both national and regional levels an integrated portfolio of proven, piloted, and emerging approaches to unlock the full potential of energy efficiency
	Identify methods to provide the significant upfront funding required by any plan to capture energy efficiency
	Forge greater alignment between utilities, regulators, government agencies, manufacturers, and energy consumers
	Foster innovation in the development and deployment of next-generation energy efficiency technologies to ensure ongoing productivity gains.

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During the Greenovation Evaluation of Dr. Anna Marie’s home, the Greenalysis Team finds virtually zero insulation, an ultra-wasteful toilet, an inefficient oil furnace, a 36 year old water tank, and more wallet busters than you can shake a Benjamin at.

About 58 million homes in the U.S. have no insulation at all.  Yet, it’s one of the easiest ways that you can save energy and lower your monthly bills. The team recommends a new castor oil based spray foam insulation in all of the walls and the attic.

Unbelievably, the original gas water heater from 1973 is still working. Lowering your water heater to 120 degrees can lower your energy use by 5 – 10%. Insulating your tank with an inexpensive tank wrap can help keep the water hot when not in use. Dr. Anna Marie has decided to install a new Rheem solar hot water heater to reduce her carbon footprint even further and ensure a comfortable flow of hot water.

Dr. Anna Marie bought the home with its original oil furnace. After recycling the old tank, she’ll be installing a state-of-the-art geothermal heat pump to heat and cool the home year round for a fraction of the energy of a traditional furnance and a/c. It’s a great choice made even more affordable by the new 30% tax credit from the federal government. The EPA calls geothermal the most efficient home comfort system available.

Anna Marie’s old-old school toilet uses about 5 gallons per flush!! She’s wasting over 8,000 gallons of water per year. She’ll be installng a new high-efficiency toilet with a dual flush sytem – half flush and full flush. The half flush will use only .8 gallons and will be almost impossible to clog. The complete list of recommended improvements for Dr. Anna Marie’s home can be found on her website www.TerraVerdeTV.com and more information can be found on how you can improve your home at www.Greenovation.TV

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DOE delivered more than $448 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to 13 states last week, allowing those states to dramatically expand their weatherization assistance programs. The programs improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families, helping the residents lower their energy bills. DOE awarded the funds to Alabama, Idaho, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, and the states may spend up to 20% of the funds to hire and train new workers. The new spending will help the states achieve their collective goal of weatherizing 125,000 homes, creating new green jobs while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The new funds represent 40% of the total weatherization funds available to those states under the Recovery Act and follow the award of 10% of the funds in March to support planning and ramp-up activities. The second half of the weatherization funds will be released when the states meet the reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act. Details on the funds awarded each states, as well as the weatherization goals set by each state, can be found in the DOE press release.

See also the Web site for DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program.

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Click here to download your FREE Federal Tax Incentive Decoder from GreenAndSave.  Also, check out the simplified Greenovation Tax Credit Guide.

The GreenAndSave team of experts read and de-coded the 400 page American Recovery and Reinvestment Act so that you wouldn’t have to. We made it simple for you to easily take advantage of these government incentives.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) signed into law by President Obama in February of 2009 has created some tremendous opportunities for homeowners. This Green De-Coder will help you uncover information regarding whatever energy efficiency improvement tactics you want to pursue, including:

* Reducing utility costs…
* Producing power…
* Financing options…
* Buying your first home…
* Buying a new car…
* Resources for state incentives…

Click here to download your FREE copy.

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Dr. Anna Marie does a “greenovation evaluation” of Terra Verde. She joins the Greenalysis team to find out what challenges she will face to make her home more energy efficient and have a healthy indoor environment.

She discovers more than just dirty lint in her dryer. She learns that she’s throwing money and energy out her 1970s windows and that her incandescent light bulbs are creating more heat than light.

Perhaps her biggest lesson is that moving her 19 year old washer out to the barn is a bad move. Retiring old appliances and replacing them with effiicient Energy Star models will save a ton of energy. Keeping that old washer could also waste over $145 each year.

FACTS:

Your home may lose 30% of its heating and cooling through its windows

Low-E glass keeps summer heat out and winter heat in where it belongs.

CFL bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Keeping your furnance filter clean can make it run more efficiently.

Energy Star appliances are a must when buying new.

Dirty lint traps and vents make your dryer work harder and waste energy.

Replacing your existing faucet aerators with a new more efficient one can

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Chris Pelitz from the Planet Green show “Greenovate” talks about how doing a green remodel and upgrading your home to be more energy efficient can make it sell fast . . . even in a depressed real estate market.

Check out the FREE Ultimate Greenovation Tax Credit and Rebate Guide

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Residential Renewable Energy 30% Tax Credits
Consumers who install solar energy systems (including solar water heating and solar electric systems), small wind systems, geothermal heat pumps, and residential fuel cell and microturbine systems can receive a 30% tax credit for systems placed in service before December 31, 2016; the previous tax credit cap no longer applies.

So, if you install a $28,000 solar system it would only cost you $19,600.  Or a $21,000 geothermal system would cost only $14,700.  Throw in some state and local tax incentives and you’d be a fool not to upgrade to one of these systems.

• Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for:
  • Geothermal Heat Pumps
  • Solar Panels
  • Solar Water Heaters
  • Small Wind Energy Systems
  • Fuel Cells

Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits
Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in existing homes can receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, for improvements “placed in service” starting January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010. See EnergyStar.gov for a complete summary of energy efficiency tax credits available to consumers.

So, $9,000 worth of windows would cost you $7,500 after the tax credit.

• Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, in 2009 & 2010 (for existing homes only) for:
  • Windows and Doors
  • Insulation
  • Roofs (Metal and Asphalt)
  • HVAC
  • Water Heaters (non-solar)
  • Biomass Stoves

About Tax Credits
A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed. Consumers can itemize purchases on their federal income tax form, which will lower the total amount of tax they owe the government.

In addition to federal tax incentives, some consumers will also be eligible for utility or state rebates, as well as state tax incentives for energy-efficient homes, vehicles and equipment. Each state’s energy office web site may have more information on specific state tax information. Click here to check out tax incentives in your state.

Check out the ENERGY STAR® page on Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency for complete details.

Are Installation Costs Covered?

Installation costs ARE COVERED for:

* HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems
* Biomass Stoves
* Water Heaters (including solar)
* Solar Panels
* Geothermal Heat Pumps
* Wind Energy Systems
* Fuel Cells

The tax credit for HVAC, biomass stoves, and non-solar water heaters is 30% of the total cost (product + installation) up to $1,500. The law specifies installation costs include: “expenditures for labor costs properly allocable to the onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of the property.”

The tax credit for solar water heaters, solar panels, geothermal heat pumps, wind energy systems, and fuel cells* is 30% of the total cost (product + installation), with no upper limit. The law specifies installation costs include: “labor costs properly allocable to the onsite preparation, assembly, or original installation of the property and for piping or wiring to interconnect such property to the home.” (*The tax credit for fuel cells is 30% of the cost, but limited to $500 per .5 kW of power capacity.)

Installation costs are NOT covered by the tax credit for:

* Windows
* Doors
* Insulation
* Roofs

Sources: ENERGYSTAR.gov and IRS.gov

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Anyone who’s looking to greenovate has heard it before “if you do this it will pay for itself.”  Greenovation can save you a lot of money and efficiency upgrades can pay for themselves in a short time.  The accountants call this ROI (Return on Investment).

It goes like this: if you install a 1.5 gallon per minute high-efficiency showerhead you’ll save so much hot water that you’ll make back the cost of the product in just a few months.   If the product costs $50, but it saves you $150 per year ($1,500 in 10 years!!) the showerhead “pays for itself” in just 4 months and your ROI is 3,000% over 10 years!!  Holy Crap!  It’s true.  So, remind me . . . why don’t you have a 1.5 gpm showerhead yet?

Check out GREENandSAVE.com (fantastic site) to find your ROI on dozens of items like skylights, new furnace, weather sealing, geothermal, solar and much more.

Here’s the ROI for Energy Efficient Windows:

2.3                  $700                       $300                      $3,000                      42.9%

Here’s a little story I got from Dr. Anna Marie this morning.  I couldn’t resist sharing:

“Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them.

He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn’t paid for them.

Hellloooo,…………just because I’m blonde doesn’t mean that I am automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves!

Helllooooo? It’s been a year! I told him. There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up.

He never called back. I bet he felt like an idiot.”

I’d love to hear your ROI stories.  Send them along by clicking here.  Occasionally, contractors trying to capitalize on “going green” can puff the sales pitch a bit.  This doesn’t help the cause to green every home in America.  So, we need to be honest about our numbers.  Green in your house can definitely save you green in your wallet.  But saving resources to create an enriched and sustainable world may be an even better cause.

GREENOVATION TIPS & RESOURCES: [Matt's advice: Don't bother with any showerhead that uses more that 1.75 gallons per minute (gpm)]

High-efficiency showerheads:

Bricor: 1 gpm – 1.5 gpm showerheads – shop here

Kohler: Forte 1.75 gpm – buy here

Hansgrohe: Croma E 75 Green 1-Jet Showerhead 1.6 gpm – buy here

Shop for dozens of low-flow showerheads here:  EcoVillageGreen.com

GREENandSAVE.com great site to find ROI on items to greenovate your home

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Dr. Anna Marie begins the greenovation of her 1970s ranch house, which she calls “Terra Verde” (Green Acres). She begins by cleaning up the overgrown landscaping, digging up then recycling the toxic fuel tank from the yard, and donating any good material and appliances to the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Show notes:

1. TURN YARD SCRAPS INTO LANDSCAPING MULCH. Don’t create a burn pile. Some cities outlaw burn piles because they contribute to smog and global warming. In the video, Dr. Anna Marie uses a Bobcat to spread her mulch. If possible, it’s best to order a pizza and get the neighbors to bring their wheel barrows over for a carbon-free mulch spreading party.

2. RECYCLE ALL METAL OR WOOD THAN CAN’T BE SALVAGED.

3. DONATE ALL USABLE MATERIAL TO A HABITAT RESTORE OR OTHER REUSE CENTER NEAR YOU. Reduce, reduce, reduce . . . then Reuse and Recycle!!

Click here to find a Habitat ReStore or to find other reuse centers in your area visit the resources page at www.Greenovation.TV.

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1. Energy Efficiency:

Geothermal heating, cooling and hot water – We used Envision by Waterfurnace is 30 SEER a/c; up to 500%. (5 COP). Read the article about our system in MetroMode Magazine. Learn more about geothermal.

Find a contractor anywhere in the U.S.

Geothermal Contractors in Ann Arbor:
Meadowlark Builders, (734) 332-1500
Michigan Energy Services, (888) 339-7700
Haley Mechanical, WaterFurnace vendor (800) 871-7993
Jetstream Heating & Cooling, Geocomfort System – Tom Fauser (734) 668-8010

Fact: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said geothermal heat pumps are, “the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available today.”

Occupancy sensors Wattstopper on all light switches – turns off lights automatically in unoccupied rooms. California now requires these in all new home construction.

Installed by Dan Delzoppo Electric 734-930-1630 – Our favorite contractor!

Available at Gross Electric in 2232 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (734) 665-8676

Available online at EcoHaus

Cellulose Insulation: blown cellulose made from recycled newspaper. R-50 in attic / R-18 in walls. Attics can be easy DIY projects. But, for walls we strongly recommend a professional with the right equipment and experience to ensure proper fill. Learn more

Installed by:
Farmer’s Insulation in Ann Arbor – Guy Murphy (734) 769-0066
Note: Our infrared camera test showed excellent coverage. Great job Guy!!

Open-cell spray foam insulation in basement between foundation and floor framing. Provides an excellent air and thermal barrier. This is also an excellent choice for attics and walls.
Arbor Insulation
734.786.1664

Energy Star appliances – Helpful hint: For 50% – 75% off on energy efficient appliances look for a Sears Appliance Outlet Store near you (there’s one in Livonia and Taylor, MI)

Change to appliances that have earned the ENERGY STAR, and you could save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs, while saving the environment.

Energy-saving light fixtures; compact fluorescent lights throughout

“A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs, depending on your cost of electricity. Look at your utility bill and imagine a 12% discount to estimate the savings.” The End of the Light Bulb as We Know It. US News & World Report, 19 December 2007.

Easy Do-it-Yourself Items to eliminate air leaks and gaps in your house:

Great Stuff foam for sealing around window casings, basement gaps, chimneys, attics, etc. When you add up all the little gaps in your house, it can be the equivalent of leaving a window open all year long. Check out the Great Stuff website “Interactive House” for cool tips on sealing your home.

Rope Caulk to help seal those pesky gaps in your old windows. Available in brown or gray. You can purchase rope caulk online or at any local hardware or home improvement store. Cost: $5.25

Reel lawn mower – German made by Brill Luxus. Weighs only 17 lbs and easier to push than a gas mower. Zero Carbon and ultra-quiet.

Check out the Brill Luxus 38 and the all new Brill Razor Cut 38

We LOVE these mowers!! This ain’t your granddaddy’s push mower. You’ll wonder why anyone uses hard to push, noisy, smelly, polluting gas mowers.

Smart Strip – WE LOVE THIS!! Power strip designed to kill that Vampire Power that is sucking hundreds of watts . . . even when you’re not using your electronics. Click “shut down” on your computer or “off” on your TV remote and it will automatically turn off all the peripherals too – DVD, Wii, surround sound, printer, fax, hard drives, or whatever. It will pay for itself in a few short months. Available online at Amazon and other retailers.

2. Water Efficiency:
The Average U.S. Home Uses 300 – 700 gallons per day! Look for the new EPA Watersense label for outstanding water savings.

High efficiency 1.5 gpm Bricor showerheads and .5 gpm faucet aerators
A family of 3 will save around 11,000 gallons of HOT water every year. This is not only a water saver, but a huge energy saver as well. This brilliant technology will pay for itself in as little as 7 months!! Every shower should have one of these. No more excuses. Simply the best shower you can get.
Online Retailers $64.95: Black Energy and EFI

Caroma High Efficiency Toilets (HET) – dual flush allows for half flush (.8 gallons) or full flush (1.6 gallons). Caroma is beautifully designed. And, with a 4″ trap, they are nearly impossible to clog. Can save thousands of gallons of water per year. They’ll pay for themselves in a few years. Other Brands to Look For: Kohler, Sterling and Toto too!

Find a Caroma Retailer: http://www.caromausa.com/distributors/
Available online: BuyPlumbing for under $400

Rainwater capture used for irrigation – We got ours made from reused Michigan oak wine barrels from St. Julian Winery. There are plenty of places to buy rain barrels or you can make your own. Believe it or not, for every inch of rain that falls on a catchment area of 1,000 square feet, you can expect to collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater. 5 inches of rain falling on a 2,000 square foot roof area will generate about 6,000 gallons of rainwater!

3. Materials:

Bioshield Floor Coatings. Antique heart pine floors sanded then refinished using natural penetrating Bioshield Hard Oil #9 for a durable, water resistant and non-toxic finish. You can often catch great closeout deals on the Bioshield website.

Find a retailer

Shower & Bath Tiles made with Recycled Content – American Olean – Available at Lowes and other tile retailers. Find a retailer

Salvaged clawfoot tub from Craigslist.org – For refinishing the interior of the tub, we used (and highly recommend) Ron Benedict of Ann Arbor Perma-Glaze
New Hudson MI 48165 (US)
Phone: 248-437-1370
Bathroom floors made from second hand marble. Highly durable.
Medicine chest mirror made from antique picture frame.

Other Materials Considerations:
Reused salvaged trimwork wherever possible

Sustainably Harvested Wood: When buying new wood, insist on Forest Stewardship Council‘s FSC Certiciation or Rainforest Alliance Certification.
Donate excess materials for reuse – Habitat for Humanity Restore or Ann Arbor Reuse Center
Compost bins for yard and kitchen scraps
1 Gallon trash can in kitchen – prevents us from creating too much waste for landfill
Compost pail at kitchen sink to collect kitchen scraps for compost – not the disposal or trash.
Reclaimed brick walkways – reuses material and minimizes stormwater runoff.

4. Indoor Environmental Quality:
Fact: Indoor air is sometimes three times more polluted than outdoor air. According to the EPA, poor indoor air quality is considered to be one of the top 5 hazards to human health. Paints and finishes, furniture, flooring, wood & cabinet adhesives, mold and poor ventilation are among the leading causes.

Third Party Certification for Indoor Air Quality: Look for Green Seal or GreenGuard certification.

Zero-VOC Paints: These are the best small brands are superior paints for everyone, but particularly for the chemically sensitive: Safecoat, Yolo Colorhouse,
Major brands (sometimes cost a little less and are now widely available) FreshAire Choice from Home Depot, Olympic Premium Paint (Available at Lowes), Pittsburgh Paints, Sherwin Williams Harmony (NOTE: Harmony is NOT GreenSeal or GreenGuard Certified and is only a “low”-VOC rather than zero-VOC) and others. Just make sure you ask for Zero-VOC paint at the paint or hardware store.

Wood floor finish: For our antique heart pine we used Bioshield Hard Oil #9 (see above) Different coatings are suited for different woods. So, make sure you ask what is best for your wood floor. Also, check out the premium line of eco-friendly finishes from SafeCoat. Bioshield and SafeCoat are both available online at www.EcoHaus.com

Whispergreen Panasonic high-efficiency motion sensor bath fan – improves indoor air quality, reduces mold and uses minimal energy. This fan is virtually silent and uses very little energy. We love it!

Available at
Gross Electric – 2232 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, 734-665-8676
Online at WestsideWholesale ($130 – $160) Plumber’s Surplus ,

Zero or Low-VOC Adhesives: Henkel Green Series zero-VOC adhesive for sub-floor in new bathroom. You will love the ways these clean up!! No more nasty chemicals to remove the other nasty chemicals that get stuck on your hands. Best of all . . . almost NO SMELL.

Furniture: antiques or reused are the best – Craigslist, Freecycle, or eBay – But, if you must buy new make sure it is durable and free from toxic brominated flame retardants (PBDEs / BFRs), PVC or formaldehyde and is made from FSC or Rainforest Alliance certified wood. Many major brands are going green. Check these out: Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Lee, Bob Williams+Mitchell Gold. Also, look for products that are C2C (Cradle 2 Cradle) certified.

Rugs and Floor coverings made from natural materials – free from toxic flame retardants (PBDE) or vinyl

Our Wish List:
Energy Recovery Ventilator – ventilate fresh air and recover 80% of heat loss ($700 – $2,000 installed)
Solar and/or Wind Power to provide our remaining energy load ($30k-$50k)
Solatubes for natural daylighting in the closets and dark spaces. ($300 each)
More forward thinking political leaders

Tell us what is on your greenovation wish list . . .

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