In today's economy and socially conscious environment regarding the environment, many people cannot afford not to start considering ways they can build or remodel their home to ensure it is green. With scientific sources such as the UN council on global warming making statements about the degradation of ice flow and environmental conditions by 2050 and the likelihood that crude oil sources will be used up within the next fifty years, it is especially necessary for young families to consider the implications of re-examining their homes and living situations to be more green. This book will guide you and your family through the process of learning more about and implementing the necessary changes and perspectives needed to change your home or build a new home that is environmentally conscious and prepared for the changing economic and environmental climate in the coming decades. You will learn why people have started to build green and how it can be done in today s regulatory and cost conditions quickly and inexpensively. You will learn how to remodel with green in mind and how to start working with building professionals that can provide the necessary materials, plans, and paperwork you need to proceed. You will learn which materials are best for green building by lifespan and how to choose between various green materials. You will learn how to not only use green materials but to make sure the construction process is green as well. You will learn the basics of framing your building, natural building methods, the energy systems you might use, and the heating cooling options at your disposal. Construction and environmental experts have been interviewed and their expertise is included in this book to help you learn everything you need to accomplish the above as well as to know what kinds of water and waste systems are best, how to site plan and landscape your home, and what the most common myths about green building are. You will learn ten things you can do on any building project to keep it green and any materials you should always have on hand for anything you do around the house. Regardless of whether you are just looking to remodel to make your house greener or are building a new home, this book will give you everything you need to stay green and respect the environment with your home.

A guide to home building, renovation, and remodeling for environmentally conscientious readers or home owners looking to promote energy efficiency explains how to reduce one's personal carbon footprint, lower costs, and promote an eco-friendly lifestyle while creating one's dream home. Original.

In today's economy and in response to the growing awareness of how much damage has been done to the environment in the past, people cannot afford to delay considering ways they can build or remodel their homes to ensure they are green.

Want to build responsibly, reduce waste, and help preserve the environment? Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your friendly, step-by-step guide to every facet of this Earth-friendly method of construction. Building a home—even a green home—uses plenty of resources and energy. This practical, hands-on book shows you how to build or remodel conscientiously, whether your dream home is a simple remodel or a brand-new multimillion-dollar mansion. You’ll start by identifying green materials and sizing up potential systems and construction sites. You’ll weigh the pros and cons of popular green building methods and identify opportunities for saving money in the long run. Need to find some green professionals to assist you in your venture? We’ll help you do that, too. This book will also help you discover how to: Understand the lifecycle of building materials Choose the right system for your green building project Put together a green team Work within your budget Use green building methods and sustainable systems Speed construction and reduce energy use and waste Refinish old fixtures and materials Beware of asbestos and lead-paint hazards Avoid costly mistakes Complete with lists of ten green things to do on every project and ten things you can do right now in your home in order to go green, Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your one-stop guide to planning and building the home you’ve always wanted.

An encyclopedic how-to of all you need to make your home green Whether because of changing lifestyles or simply because houses are becoming outdated, millions of North Americans are renovating their homes every year, spending more money annually on renovation than on new home construction. But renovations can be fraught with unintended consequences like indoor air pollution. How do you remodel in a healthy, environmentally friendly way? Green Remodeling is a comprehensive guide. It first points out the advantages of remodeling. Buildings are responsible for 40% of worldwide energy flow and material use; so how you remodel can make a difference. Upgrading furnaces, cabinets and toilets means less fossil fuel pollution, reduced resource depletion, and fewer health risks. Green remodeling is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and more affordable to create, operate and maintain. The book then discusses simple green renovation solutions for homeowners, focusing on key aspects of the building including foundations, framing, plumbing, windows, heating and finishes. Room by room, it outlines the intricate connections that make the house work as a system. For example, how new windows may affect the structure and mechanical systems of the rooms below, the health of the family, and the future of old-growth forests. Then, in an easy-to-read format complete with checklists, personal stories, expert insights and an extensive resource list, it covers easy ways to save energy, conserve natural resources, and protect the health of loved ones. Addressing all climates, this is a perfect resource for conventional homeowners, as well as architects and remodeling contractors.

A concise guide to current best practices for designing, constructing, testing, and ensuring longevity for new high-performance homes, Green Building Strategies explains in plain language what's happening in the rapidly evolving field of building science. Green Building Strategies has condensed current information about green building from credible sources in a format you can easily digest. With this book you'll learn how to - Comply with new energy code requirements - Understand green building standards - Sort out product manufacturers' claims - Answer buyers' questions about high performance homes - Build high-performance energy-efficient green homes to satisfy buyers and stay ahead of your competitors Green Building Strategies takes you step-by-step from design through site development and construction, quality assurance, marketing, and customer service. It provides the information you need to systematically create green projects with a price tag both you and your buyers can accept. This comprehensive resource includes URLs for essential online green building resources, illustrations, and a glossary. "This very readable and easy-to-use guide will help builders and other industry professionals understand and apply cutting-edge building science to construct high performance homes that meet consumer demand." Donald Ferrier, CGB Ferrier Companies NAHB Green Building Advocate of the Year Energy Value Housing Award Remodeler of the Year Fort Worth, Texas

Go Green & Gain Peace of Mind With this book, readers can sleep well knowing their remodeling and repair practices are protecting the environment and keeping their families healthy. This beautiful step-by-step guide features a host of practical projects and practices for green-thinking homeowners with a hands-on attitude. Offering a boost for the spirit, a refresher for the body and a balm for the planet, it is a comprehensive primer for eco-friendly home stewardship. Black & Decker The Complete Guide to The Green Home is the first home remodeling book to recognize both the broadening appeal of green practices and the fact that working within those guidelines can be done without extraordinary methods or premium prices. From kitchen remodeling to landscaping to installing lighting and flooring, there is hardly an aspect of modern homeownership that canóÇÖt be conducted with a preference for sustainable products, efficient energy use and reduced toxicity. Truly consumer-friendly, this new book presents a succession of manageable green projects shown with detailed photography and accompanied by sound instructions. Part of the industry-leading Black & Decker The Complete Guide line of books, The Complete Guide to The Green Home is a hardworking handbook for home remodeling and maintenance that improves our quality of life while remaining easy on the Earth.