Von Löwen Designs

Green remodeling and sustainable design should embrace an overall greener lifestyle approach and incorporate features that will facilitate environmentally responsible living. Specific design elements can range from something as simple as incorporating recycling receptacles when greening your kitchen remodel – to providing a dedicated area for bicycles – to designing for maximum storage functionality. Providing composting receptacles in the kitchen, a sturdy composting bin outdoors or just storage spaces that will encourage organization, while discouraging the accumulation of belongings and unwanted clutter will help keep spaces more utilitarian.

If green remodeling moves the home to higher performance, then the project’s end result must also move the occupants to higher levels of performance. Client education is key. Much of the energy savings and many of the improvements to comfort and indoor air quality initiated by building improvements need to be supported by changes in occupant behavior. Exhaust fans need to be turned on, lights need to be turned off, with regular maintenance needs to be scheduled for major equipment.

Homeowners should be encouraged (not preached to) to alter their lifestyles in ways that reduce energy use and ensure that their home will be as healthy as can be. Specific recommendations to save energy include properly setting back thermostats, limiting water use, closing windows reducing operation of air conditioning or heating systems, closing window blinds to reduce unwanted heat gain, using a ceiling fan to increase summertime comfort without air conditioning, turning off a ceiling fan when leaving a room, turning off lights when not in a room, and using lighting while keeping ambient light levels lower.

Even the smallest efforts like wiping feet when entering and/or removing shoes, avoiding over watering plants, operating bath and range hood fans when generating moisture or cooking odors, avoiding smoking in or next to the house, and avoiding excessive perfume use, can have an impact and help to keep homes more healthy.

When speaking to my clients about their routines and behavioral tendencies I remain mindful of their present lifestyle and do my best not to sound too arrogant or scornful, there’s nothing worse than that. Remember, you’re simply their advisor and it’s still their house. Awareness of your client’s perspective while explaining the benefits of such actions makes the most sense – leaving it up to them to follow these suggestions even better – and is always my approach.

Waste Management.

It makes good environmental sense to minimize solid waste during construction because landfills are filling up, incineration of construction and demolition (C & D) waste generates pollution, and such waste represents lost resources. The first priority should be to minimize the generation of construction waste. This can be done during design by optimizing dimensions to reduce cut off waste, and it can be done on the job site through careful use of materials. Second, C & D waste materials that are generated on the job site should be sorted and stored for salvage and reuse or recycling. As part of a waste management plan, research the salvage and recycling options for different materials, and designate storage receptacles accordingly. A local municipal solid waste agency should be able to help you identify these disposal options.

Additionally, it is good practice, and good public relations to recycle consumer materials on the job site, such as glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers and paper products. Arrangements can be made to use either the client’s recycling containers or designate a crew member to handle municipal recyclables.

Good waste management plans for remodeling are especially challenging because of the lack of space on the job site, the small quantities of new construction waste material, the often huge amount of demolition waste, and finally, the presence of hazardous waste. Nevertheless, remodeling projects present increased opportunities for salvage and reuse.

Pollutants and Clean Air.

During any remodeling project or the construction of an addition, particularly when the house is occupied, it is very important to keep contaminants from the construction site out of the house. Many construction activities, such as concrete grinding, tile and backer board cutting, pipe fitting, drywall finishing, caulking and foam sealing, gluing, and painting can introduce significant quantities of indoor air contaminants. I do my best to specify the use of zero VOC paints and finishes and it’s always nice to work with contractors that control such contaminants by conducting dust producing activities outside if possible and capturing pollutants as they are produced.

Eco-friendly Material Selection.

A way to ensure that the wood used in remodeling projects or additions was produced in an environmentally responsible manner is to specify products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). FSC has established rigorous standards for forest management and a process for third party certification of those forests and products derived from them.

Most FSC-certified wood products will be more expensive than non certified products because of the cost of conducting third party certifications of forest operations and verifying chain of custody certifications of products coming from those forest operations. Obtaining a consistent, ready supply of FSC certified wood products might also be a problem; supply and distribution of various FSC certified materials vary widely by region. A strong second option is to use third party certified Sustainable Forestry Initiative materials, with a third option being SFI self certified materials.

Select drywall (wallboard) products with a high recycled content and use taping materials and joint compound without hazardous additives that aid drying and setting. Conventional, paper faced drywall is a fairly good material from an environmental standpoint (recycled paper facing and low off gassing of pollutants). Drywall made from flue gas desulfurization gypsum (a waste product from pollution control equipment on coal fired power plants) is also available. In high moisture areas, specify drywall products that are more resistant to moisture, such as nonpaper faced products (monolithic and fiberglass faced drywall is available for high moisture areas). Drywall materials with higher preconsumer recycled content are becoming available. In some cases, using structure as finish components can eliminate interior finish panels altogether. For example, if the wall is being made from blocks (such as autoclaved aerated concrete, AAC), a natural clay plaster could be applied directly to that masonry surface, eliminating the need for panelized products altogether.

Capturing dust during drywall finishing and using temporary fans to maintain negative pressure and exhausting the dust in the space being finished should be standard operating procedure. To avoid contaminating the heating system, seal registers and the ductwork during drywall sanding and finishing. Recycling opportunities for drywall cut off waste are generally quite limited; on site recycling of ground gypsum board as a soil amendment is permissible in many locations. Low and zero VOC joint compound may contain chemical compounds that have adverse health effects for some individuals.

In high humidity areas where walls will frequently be washed, durable paints with high scrubability ratings will ensure longer life. In these applications, painters long preferred oil based enamel paint, but newer high sheen, water borne acrylic paints now offer excellent performance. As with all paints, look for low VOC levels.

Green Features Manual.

The benefits of greening your home are plentiful and many leading builders today are providing a homeowner’s manual when they complete a new house; the same should be provided for any significant remodeling project. This is a place to explain how systems work, collect equipment and appliance owner’s manuals, provide photographs showing wall framing before the walls were closed in, a list of contractors and subcontractors with contact information, any special maintenance requirements, and any safe cleaning recommendations. A lot of effort goes into creating a green project or remodel; with the inclusion of a homeowner’s manual, these practices can be described, specific lists created, and all relevant documentation collected in a neat and well organized, easy to reference package.

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, so before you leave be sure to visit Von Löwen Designs to view an assortment of refreshing examples in kitchen and bath design concepts, refined palette and interior finishes, and sustainable yet chic, green remodeling ideas that may encourage and inspire your next remodel or home improvement project.