Green Remodeling Myths in Connecticut
Posted by Bob Wiedenmann on Wed, Jan 04, 2012 @ 10:30 AM
There’s been a lot of talk about “Going Green” for several years now. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Let’s take a look at several myths surrounding what it means to “be green” when it comes to remodeling your Connecticut area home.
Green is Always More Expensive: Years ago, using environmentally friendly building materials or installing ecologically responsible devices cost a lot more. When demand for these items grew and more or them became available, prices dropped. It’s simple supply and demand. There are still some areas in which a green solution costs more initially. But those costs are often offset by long-term reductions in energy use. And there are still tax incentives for using green materials and devices.
The Green Fad is Fading: Some people thought environmentally responsible building and remodeling would simply fade away, but it’s not a fad. Demand has been growing steadily for years. McGraw-Hill’s Construction’s Green Outlook 2011, says the value of green building construction starts was up 50% from 2008 to 2010— from $42 billion to $55 billion-$71 billion. That represented 25% of all new construction activity in 2010. Projections are that the green building market will reach $135 billion by 2015.
Green Equals Political: The fact is that people of all sorts of political persuasions are concerned about protecting our environment and being good stewards of our natural resources. There are a variety of “shades” of green, but environmental concern doesn’t belong to any particular political party.
If a Product is “Green” it’s Good: That would be nice if it were true, but it simply isn’t. Part of the problem is that there are few universally accepted standards for what makes something “green.” Some products may receive endorsements from the EPA or from Green Seal. But unscrupulous companies try to take advantage of consumers’ desire to protect the environment. How can you guard against companies like that? One way is to check the product packaging. Is the packaging environmentally sound? Where was it manufactured? Did it require gallons of fossil fuels to travel thousands of miles before arriving at your local store? Another thing to do is to check the GreenSpec Directory at BuildingGreen.com to see if the products show up on their list.
If a Product is “Green” it’s of Poor Quality: When energy-efficient products or water-saving devices first appeared on the scene, some weren’t as good as “conventional” devices. Early CFL lights weren’t all that great. Some low-flow toilets weren’t up to standard. But with increased demand came increased quality—and lower prices as well. There are now many energy-saving devices (low water washers, for instance) that use less water and electricity and do a better job than their “conventional” counterparts.
Green building and remodeling are now part of the mainstream. There are plenty of ways you can be environmentally responsible when building or remodeling your home. Don’t let “green myths” keep you from pursuing an environmentally sound home.
