We put a lot into a small bathroom. 3’ X 5’ tiled shower with 2 low flow heads, jetted tub, custom vanity that matches the bedroom furniture, water efficient toilet, low flow faucet, quartz coutertop. Style and materials to last a lifetime…the true definition of sensible green remodeling!
To ensure that you find a home remodeling specialist that will meet your needs we suggest that you meet with them in person before hiring them. This will give you an opportunity to talk to them about your home renovation project and see some of their work. In order to prepare for remodeling specialist visit we suggest the following:
Upon choosing a firm/designer, they will visit your home to take precise measurements. They will also spend a significant amount of time interviewing you to discover the exact type of style of home renovations you would like. Next they will provide you with a plan (many can develop 3 Dimensional imagery), which will include material costs, specifications and design entails. When the design is approved and a budget is set, a payment schedule will be arranged.
Please, take the time to review some of the energy and environmental savings suggestions on Sensible Green Remodeling, you will also find that your remodeling project can result in a home that is more efficient, healthy, and still maintains great functionality and style.
To ensure that you find the home remodeling specialist that will meet your needs we suggest that you meet with them in person at your home. This will give you an opportunity to talk to them about your renovation project and walk them around your project. In order to prepare for remodeling specialist visit we suggest the following:
Upon choosing a firm/designer, they will take measurements and photos. They will also spend a significant amount of time interviewing you to discover the exact type of style of home renovations you would like. Next they will provide you with a plan (ask for 3 Dimensional imagery), which will include costs, specifications and design entails. When the design is approved and a budget is set, a payment schedule will be arranged.
Take the time to review some of the energy and environmental savings suggestions on Sensible Green Remodeling, you will find that your home can be more efficient, healthy, and still maintain great functionality and style.
While we’ve had a dip in home ownership over the last few years, the rise in employment may signal the begining of a recovery. Regardless of the situation, there is no better way to increase the value of your home than to improve it through home remodeling and renovations. There are several Minnesota home remodeling projects that you can do that will increase your home value. For instance, Minnesota bathroom remodeling, Minnesota kitchen remodeling and Minnesota basement remodeling are extremely popular. Both bathroom and kitchen remodeling not only increase your personal enjoyment and comfort but they have a high return on their investment. When the time comes for you to sell your home in Minnesota, a newly remodeled bathroom, basement or kitchen could make your home more attractive to home buyers and allow you to ask for a higher resale value and quicker sale.
You may want to consider remodeling options that help save money and the environment. No matter what your goal is Sensible Green Remodeling can help you find the answer to your Minnesota home remodeling questions.
The US remodeling market has grown incredibly in the last decade, with total volume nearly doubling from $149 billion in 1995 to $280 billion in 2005, according to the report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. With the current decline in housing sales, more Twim Cities homeowners are remodeling their current home to meet their needs rather than trying to sell. Are you looking to design your home remodeling project in Minnesota? Are you looking to start your dream home remodeling project? Are you looking for home remodeling contractors in Minnesota? Are you looking for green remodeling specialists in Minnesota? Are you wondering how you can save money on your home remodeling project for the installation and the subsequent months and years of utility bills? Over 40% of our national energy consumption comes from houses and buildings, according to the US Department of Energy. So, you may want to consider remodeling options that help save money and the environment. No matter what your goal is Sensible Green Remodeling can help you find the answer to your remodeling questions.
What does a blower door do?
Cooking in the kitchen generates a lot of moisture and odors, and requires ventilation. While there are various ventilation strategies for a kitchen, the range hood is by far the most common. The range hood should be used to capture and exhaust combustion products and vent them directly outdoors. These range hoods should be sized correctly. For a typical range, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Home Ventilation Institute (HVI) recommend 100 cubic feet per minute (cfm). Larger fans may need to have make-up air provided, to prevent excessively depressurizing the home and potentially causing combustion equipment to backdraft. Choose a quiet or remote mounted fan so noise doesn’t keep you from using the range hood every time you cook.
Despite good ventilation, moisture-laden air from the kitchen can still make it’s way into wall and ceiling cavities. A kitchen remodeling project may present an opportunity to improve air-sealing. Electrical, plumbing, and ventilation penetrations should be sealed where they are accessible or in any walls that are opened. Depending on how they were constructed, soffits can be troublesome to air-seal, but if you are replacing cabinets, you may be able to access space that would otherwise be unreachable.
Flooring must not only have a good resistance to harm by water, but should also prevent water which does get on the floor from penetrating to the subfloor and space below.
Do not install carpet near water sources or in areas where there is a chronic moisture problem such as around sinks. To reduce the potential for microbial growth in the joints of hard surfaces or porous flooring installed near water sources, be sure to seal the entire surface.
Kitchen remodeling may present a good opportunity to replace old windows with new ENERGY STAR® windows. While costs do not always justify the change from purely an energy savings perspective, there may be other benefits of new windows. More efficient windows may be less prone to condensation and related mold growth. Painted window sashes and frames in homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint; this is a special concern because the friction of opening and closing windows can release lead dust into the home.
While remodeling or improving the energy efficiency of your home, steps should be taken to minimize pollution from sources inside the home. In addition, residents should be alert to signs of inadequate ventilation, such as stuffy air, moisture condensation on cold surfaces, or mold and mildew growth and use the remodeling project to correct underlying problems. While all of our general recommendations may not apply to your home, you should be aware of the issues, from radon and lead, to ventilation, and good work practices.
Anyone with concerns about their energy cost should consider a home energy audit. If you are considering making improvements to your home in order to reduce energy usage or improve air quality and comfort an energy audit can help you prioritize. When one considers all of the potential issues such as missing or insufficient insulation, air leaks, drafty windows, older appliances, water heaters…..well the list goes no and on. An energy audit will help the homeowner understand which changes will make the biggest environmental impact and cost savings.
A competent auditor will perform a blower door test. The blower door is installed in an exterior doorframe and it’s powerful fan blows air out of the home creating a negative pressure. Sensitive equipment analyzes the resulting airflow and identifies air leaks. Combined with an infrared camera, exact locations of energy robbing air infiltration and missing insulation are identified.
The energy auditor will also evaluate a years worth of energy bill to help identify poor performing appliances, water heaters, heating and airconditioning. Also lifestyle changes often help lower energy usage.
The auditor utilizes the resulting information to develop a comprehensive action plan to prioritize needed repairs and replacements. Priorities should always start with repairs to poor performing furnaces and water heaters that may be introducing carbon monoxide gas into the home. Second on the list is usually correcting air leaks and poor insulation in the ceiling. Yes your mother was right, wear a hat, most of your heat goes out of the top of your head. The rest of the items are prioritized by cost effectiveness and payback – how long will it take to save enough energy to offset the investment.
Recent federal tax incentives can offset many of the costs of improvement. Tax savings up to 30% or $1,500 really takes the bite out of the expense of replacing, for example, windows or insulation. For more information on federal tax incentives see www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index
A last word of advice – when you select an energy auditor ask to see their training. certification (Minnesota offers certification).
For you Do It Yourselfers www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11170
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Dave & Ray
"A Home Energy Audit May Save You Money"
Energy Auditors Can save on Cash and Taxes
In 2 hours we can find those issues that are costing you money and comfort
We can show you how to correct problems yourself or fix them for you.
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