I’d like to see what other folks think about green remodeling and the costs associated with this approach.
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While “Green Remodeling” is an attractive concept, it it poorly defined and overused, to the point of abuse, in marketing.
It is almost never “Green” to replace old wooden windows with new vinyl (or other) dual panes. No footprint at the dump, no manufacturing footprint (all that energy intensive vinyl, aluminum or fiberglass and window glass) and the life a DG unit is about equal to the payback cyle of the monthly energy savings - in other words, by the time the energy saved equals the cost of the window, you need to replace the (expensive) DG window glass. Rather, you should repair the existing windows in place and add storm windows for far less cost.
Many other, seemingly “Green” exercises are equally efficient. It is very difficult to recover the cost and manufacturing impacts of furnaces, water heaters and so on - UNLESS - you are replacing a unit that has reached the end of its useful life and needs replacement anyway.
Small scale solar is probably cost neutral or slightly cost effective, especially if you are working on an older home in need of significant electrical upgrades to the service panel.
Many recycled or “Green” products carry a price tag out of proportion to their delivered benefit, and although they offer the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from doing a good thing, they are pricey.
In our projects we try to design as efficiently as possible. We try to economize on materials, keeping in mind the cost and environmental impact of engineered wood products as opposed to solid sawn lumber. We use highly designed structurals systems to reduce the amount of material used in structure. We try to design to maximize solar heating and daylighting and use passive shading strategies whenever possible.
Although we typically achieve as high as 85% diversion of our mixed construction and demolition debris from the landfill by using a recycler, often the best way to recycle is to repurpose. Do you or someone you know need some cabinets in their garage? Is there a build materials salvage yard in your area? Old windows and doors can always find a home there. We send all our appliances to a recycler who salvages certain parts, responsibly disposes of freon and oil, then recycles the balance.
At the end of the day, a great deal of being “Green” can be achieved by making repsonsible choices, by considering the design ethics prevalent at the turr of the century for daylighting, natural ventilation and shading. Once these options have been exhausted, prepare to spend some money to acquire labeled “Green” building products.
Patio covers and pergolas
In our specific niche industry of aluminum building products you are getting a very green product. It is fully recyclable and often contains recyled materials. It has always been this way so there is no cost difference unless comparing different product lines such as wood verses aluminum or vinyl and aluminum. You will spend more on aluminum up front but if properly maintained wood will far out spend the aluminum over time. With vinyl it is a recyclable product but does not come with a premium incentive like aluminum in a scrap scenario so it often ends up in the landfill where aluminum always gets sold and repurposed. Up front costs are usually higher with vinyl over aluminum because vinyl has very little structural integrity and must be filled with either wood or aluminum.
I am very much a proponent of aluminum and feel your money is more easily invested knowing its green value. Being green is just one of many reasons making it easier to choose aluminum over its counter parts.
sometimes green remodeling gets in the way of build what your client is looking for in a remodel. they wantto go from old to new. one has to make them understand the value of reclycing products. we are always using reclaimed flooring, cabnets, and wooden window frames. we can refurbish some of these products to work like new for our clients.