Green Remodeling and the Importance of Evaluating the Entire House

When remodeling, it is important to consider the existing house and its systems and how the improvements will affect them. The remodeled areas can impose new loads on the existing systems and they should be properly evaluated during the design phase. This is an excellent opportunity to incorporate green building practices not only into the remodeled space, but also in other places in the house. Here are some of the main systems that need to be evaluated:

Mechanical System - This may be the most obvious system affected when adding new heated space to a home. Can the heating and air conditioning equipment handle the additional square footage? How old and efficient is it? Have the ducts tested for leakage especially if they are in unconditioned space.

Electrical System - Can the existing electrical system handle the new loads imposed on it? Is there room in the panel for additional circuits? Many older homes have outdated wiring that needs to be identified and addressed.

Plumbing System - If a remodeling project includes a bathroom the plumbing system will be affected. The water heater may not be able to handle the needs of the new bathroom or the waste water system may need a larger diameter pipe exiting the house. If a septic system is used it may need to be updated to handle the additional load. Check with local codes.

Structural System - The existing structural components need to be evaluated if the remodeled area adds new loads to it. An addition to the second story or exterior of a house can impose new loads on girders and footings and they need to be properly sized to handle the additional load.

Insulation System - Remodeling is an excellent opportunity to upgrade the existing insulation in the home. Combined with air sealing, adding insulation could eliminate the need for additional heating and cooling needs. A blower door test can measure how leaky the house is.

As you can tell from this article the house is a group of systems all working together. A change to one system can affect another one and it is important to evaluate them all during the design phase. This helps ensure that there are no surprises during construction and that you are getting the best performance from your home.

As an owner of a renovation company in Charlotte NC, Roger Ketchum has become very passionate about Green Building. Visit his website at http://completegreenbuilding.com. Not only is he a GCP (Green Certified Professional) but also a CR (Certified Remodelor). Visit his companies website at http://advancedrenovations.com.

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Green Real Estate - Interest Grows in California

I grew up in North Hollywood, California. I remember attending Monlux elementary school in Van Nuys when "Ecology" became big news. That's 40+ years ago! Back then it was about recyling. We'd have huge newspaper drives to divert some of that trash for re-use. I didn't really understand what was happening back then but now I realize that I was witnessing the birth of something important. California really was the birthplace of the "Green" movement. Sometimes it seems like the rest of the country is just catching up. And now that we are reaching the onset of the economic recovery we are beginning to see emerging technologies leading the way, and in the forefront of these technologies will be the development of green building products and real estate practices. Nowhere in the United States are they more focused on developing environmentally responsible practices than in California. This focus will create a growing opportunity for green real estate in California that will be something people will want to be a part of in the years to come.

As a seller of homes or commercial properties, environmentally sound additions are always a major selling point. Being able to point out the smaller carbon footprint of one home compared to another will be a desirable feature to a homebuyer. Californians have led the way in developing green practices such as solar and wind generated power and energy saving building materials and techniques. Any property in California that can state the energy efficient inclusions in the home is far more likely to sell before homes that have no environmental awareness at all. Taking into account the importance of environmental responsibility is imperative if a seller wishes to be successful in the state of California.

As a buyer in California, green real estate is just another of the enormous number of incentives to purchase a home in 2010. As if the extraordinary home prices and interest rates together with the tax incentives to purchase a primary residence were not enough, there will now be added seller competitiveness to offer green options in the homes they are selling. The climate of environmental concern is prevalent in California. Many homes have either been built or retrofitted with more environmentally friendly features and products than in any other state. If the choice comes down to two homes in the same price range, it would make more sense for a buyer to purchase a home that will save them money continuously with the energy savings that are provided in a green home. With California's awareness of the need to become ecologically responsible, there is no reason for a buyer to choose a home that is not environmentally sound.

One of the most important industries in the future of our economy will be the usage and development of green real estate practices, and California those holding a California real estate license would be wise to learn all they can about the subject.. In doing so, California will set the stage for the nation to create stronger economic opportunity in environmental responsibility. Buyers and sellers alike will not be able to ignore the absolute importance of green real estate to the overall state of the economy in California. For decades, ever since there has been discussion about the need to protect the environment, California has been a leader in environmental and ecological issues and will continue to push forward in environmentally responsible real estate practices.

David Goldstein is a Partner at the American School of Real Estate Express aka RealEstateExpress.com. Our school offers 100% online California real estate license

courses. Online since 1997, we are the oldest and most trusted online schools in the nation.

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