12 Green Repair IdeasCompiled for you by Paul’s Quality Home Repair, Inc.

1. Drafts and Air Leaks

“Perhaps one of the easiest ways to save money around

the house is to seal off drafts, which can reduce your

energy bills 5 to 30 percent, according to the U.S.

Department of Energy. With today's heating and cooling

prices, that amounts to real money.

Check for window drafts by carefully holding an incense

stick up to each frame and watch the smoke to see if

there is a leak. (Be sure to remove all curtains first to

avoid a fire.) Then use caulking or weather-stripping to

seal the cracks. Make sure you cover any pipe outlets or

cracks in the foundation. Also roll up an old towel, or buy

or make a cute 'draft snake' to put over the crack in the

bottom of doors (at the 'sill' or 'saddle').”

Read more: Green Remodeling - Money Saving Green

Remodeling Ideas for Your Home - The Daily Green

2. Fix Water Leaks

“A dripping faucet or pipe joint is more than just an

auditory annoyance. Besides driving you crazy, it can

really add up to substantial water waste. One faulty

faucet wastes 3 gallons of water per day, reports the U.S.

Geological Survey.

Sometimes a leak is just a matter of a quick tighten,

which almost anyone can do with pliers or a pipe wrench.

Other times you get befuddled, or have a leak that is too

hard to get to. In those cases it is worth calling a

plumber, because not only will you see lower water bills

over time, but you decrease the risk of mold, which is a

serious threat both to home value and indoor air quality.

It may be a cliché, but every drop does add up.”

Read more: Green Remodeling - Money Saving Green

Remodeling Ideas for Your Home - The Daily Green

3. Programmable Thermostats

“It may not be the most thrilling piece of electronics you

could buy, but a programmable thermostat will pay for

itself in one season, and save you time and hassle. By

maintaining more constant heating and cooling levels, and

'remembering' to turn down the heat at night, the average

family will save $150 a year, according to the EPA.

That's impressive, considering that programmable

thermostats can be picked up from major manufacturers

for as little as $50. They don't contain mercury like the

olden days, and are available at most home-improvement

and hardware stores.

Installing one is usually only a matter of connecting up a

few wires in the back once you remove your old one (shut

off the power to the area). Generally anyone can do it

with a screwdriver and the instructions. But if you have

any doubt, it's a quick fix for an electrician or

handyman.”

Read more: Green Remodeling - Money Saving Green

Remodeling Ideas for Your Home - The Daily Green

4. Low-Flow Showerheads, etc.

“You'd probably rather not spend much time thinking

about toilets, but it's a fact that most older models waste

large amounts of water. In fact, more than 30 percent of

indoor residential water use is flushed down the porcelain

drain.

Decades ago, toilets used 5 gallons per flush, but readily

available low-flow models use less than a gallon, and

work great. American Standard, Toto and Kohler are

leaders in the field.

Also save water and money, and still have ample water

pressure, with a low-flow showerhead, which can slash

bathing-water consumption 50 to 70 percent. The devices

are simple to install and start at around $8. Many styles

and features are available, including flow-adjusting dials

and a pause button.”

Read more: Green Remodeling - Money Saving Green

Remodeling Ideas for Your Home - The Daily Green

5. Low- or no-VOC products

“Air-polluting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include

toxic solvents and formaldehyde. Some new fiberglass

insulation is VOC-free; other lung-friendly insulation

includes recycled cotton batts (containing cloth trimmings

usually scrapped) and soy-based sprayed-in foam.

Low- or no-odor coatings. Sherwin-Williams' zero-VOC

Harmony line has virtually no odor during application and

drying. Its water-base Duration Home formulas are even

more stain-resistant and washable yet contain fewer VOCs

than typical paints.”

Read more: Environmentally Friendly Building and

Remodeling Materials - Better Homes and Garden

6. Use Recycled Products

“Recycled products are filling the market faster than

aluminum cans at a sporting event. Look for rubber and

polymer roofing that imitates slate to reduce weight and

maintenance. In countertops, IceStone blends 75 percent

recycled glass with concrete for durable countertops,

backsplashes, shower surrounds, walls, and floors.”

Read more: Environmentally Friendly Building and

Remodeling Materials - Better Homes and Garden

7. Insulate

“The sun's effect on your home's energy usage doesn't

stop at the windows. If you live in a home that heats up

too much in the warm, sunny months, reflective

insulation may be a cost-saving upgrade to put high on

your to-do list.

Reflective insulation is designed to control solar radiation,

the sun's heat-producing energy, which passes through

your roof and walls to heat the air inside your home.

Some types of reflective insulation can prevent wayward

airflow inside, while others simply bounce the solar

energy away from the interior [source: U.S. Department

of Energy]. Reflective insulation is often a thinner

material than the thermal insulation used to keep heat

from escaping from the home. It usually consists of a

reflective material, such as aluminum, bonded to thin

wood or another type of backing. It's typically used along

with thermal insulation as part of a comprehensive

project.”

Read more: 10 Eco-friendly Home Construction Options

for Any Budget – How Stuff Works

8. Windows

“If your budget allows, upgrading windows to better-

sealed and better-insulated models can pay huge

dividends in the fight against high energy costs

[source: Energy Star].

Your budget may allow you to install multipane windows,

in which the space between panes is filled with an

insulating gas, such as argon [source: Efficient Windows

Collaborative]. The glass on these efficient windows is

often tinted or treated with a glazing material that

reduces the solar energy allowed into the home

[source: Efficient Windows Collaborative].

If your budget doesn't leave room for the top end of the

efficient window spectrum, something as simple as

selecting windows with nonmetallic frames (the metal

transmits heat through the wall) can provide some savings

at a more reasonable cost [source: Efficient Windows

Collaborative].”

Read more: 10 Eco-friendly Home Construction Options

for Any Budget – How Stuff Works

9. Tankless Water Heaters

“Tankless water heaters don't keep water hot in a

standing tank all day long. Instead, these compact, on-

demand units attach to your plumbing system and heat

water as it runs through a heat exchanger. You only pay to

heat water when you need it. Rinnai claims its Continuum

model is 50 to 70 percent more efficient than a

traditional standby heater. A digital control pad maintains

and limits water temperature indefinitely. One version

lets you preset showers, automatically fill tubs, and even

enjoy TV and radio on a 7-inch screen.”

Read more: Environmentally Friendly Building and

Remodeling Materials - Better Homes and Garden

10. Energy Saving Appliances

“Home appliances are tools. And like any tool,

your washer, dryer, water heater and dishwasher will

eventually wear out and need to be replaced. This fact of

homeownership is also a great opportunity: When a major

appliance wears out, some smart shopping can lead to

major energy savings with an efficient new model

[source: Energy Star].

Make sure you know what size appliance you need. Buying

an air conditioner that's too small will lead to hot

summers and a constantly running appliance. But a too-

large air conditioner might not adequately remove

humidity in your home and will waste energy when it's

running [source: Energy Star].

New, efficient appliances aren't always cheap. But

evaluating your needs and researching your options can

help you strike a balance between price and performance

that will improve your home's eco-friendliness, regardless

of your budget.”

Read more: 10 Eco-friendly Home Construction Options

for Any Budget – How Stuff Works

11. Lumber Choices

“Lumber choices may seem confusing. Avoid products

produced from old growth timber or endangered tropical

hardwoods. Seek out certified and managed forests,

recycled or reclaimed wood (salvaged from riverbeds or

old buildings), or composites such as hardwood-veneered

MDF (medium-density fiberboard) for doors and cabinets.

An early green favorite with architects, fast-growing

bamboo makes beautiful, durable flooring.”

Read more: Environmentally Friendly Building and

Remodeling Materials - Better Homes and Garden

12. Outdoor Products

“Outdoor products have evolved, too. Treated lumber

eliminated arsenic for less toxic preservatives. Formed

from ground wood fibers and resin, composite decking

and railing won't rot or need painting. CorrectDeck

(www.correctdeck.com) is splinter-free and cool

underfoot, and its woodgrain planks can be joined with

hidden fasteners.”

Read more: Environmentally Friendly Building and

Remodeling Materials - Better Homes and Garden