Aneinfo Real Estate

More money is spent annually on home renovation than on new construction, (almost $300 billion in 2006). It is estimated that more than a million homes per year undergo major renovation or remodeling.

Economic and environmental realities are driving homeowners to look at how to maximize resource usage and to decrease the waste stream generated by construction projects. More of us are asking if there are better ways to remodel that can enhance health, reduce energy consumption, lower maintenance costs and minimize environmental impact. There is. It’s called green remodeling.

What is green remodeling? Essentially, it is the convergence of three basic principles:

• Increasing energy efficiency

• Improving indoor air quality

• Conserving natural resources

Perhaps the best way to describe the philosophy of green remodeling is that it is a form of applied common sense. Remodeling and renovation projects offer myriad ways to reduce, re-use and recycle. Salvaging and re-using materials can result in lower cost of materials and in the reduction of environmentally damaging waste disposal and lowering disposal-related fees. As a bonus, the use of salvaged materials, such as wood flooring, doors and antique fixtures can also add beauty and style to a newly remodeled space.

In their book, “Green Remodeling”, co-authors David Johnston and Kim Master refer to green remodeling as “Changing the World, One Room at a Time” (available at http://www.amazon.com), According to the authors, you can do this by employing green building processes and materials in remodeling projects, because going green “is more energy-efficient, more resource-conserving, healthier for occupants and more affordable to create, operate and maintain”.

Many products and practices used in remodeling a home can have negative effects on the environment. Green remodeling requires that thoughtful attention is given to minimizing or eliminating products or practices that could cause environmental damage or that could harm occupants during construction, or after the remodeling project is complete.

Since 1993, The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) http://www.usgbc.org/ has developed and administered a Green Building Rating System. USGBC provides practical information on applying green building standards to building projects. The adoption of green practices is seen as a way homeowners can meaningfully contribute to efforts aimed toward reducing global warming. There are many green alternatives to standard practices that USGBC recommends:

• Use wood alternatives like engineered lumber, or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood harvested from managed forests (http://www.fscus.org)

• Employ renewable products like bamboo for flooring

• Reduce the use of paint and cleaning products containing high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)

• Use natural fiber rugs and fabrics

• When available, use recycled or high recycled-content materials

• Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection, saving money on heating and cooling costs

• Green up your yard using native plants that are adapted to local soil and weather conditions, thereby lowering maintenance and reducing the use of chemical pesticides, fertilizer and irrigation

• Shop locally. When practical, use locally produced products to reduce carbon emissions caused by long distance transportation

When planning a remodeling project, bear in mind that it is both easier and cheaper to incorporate green materials and strategies in the early stages, rather than adding them piecemeal, or as an afterthought, when in the thick of the project.

Here are some green remodeling strategies to consider.

Energy Conservation

Ways to increase energy efficiency can range from simply adding an insulation blanket to your water heater and insulating hot water pipes to replacing older appliances with new Energy Star-rated appliances. Replacing a standard storage water heater with a so-called tankless water heating system can result in increased efficiency and significant monthly utility savings. Additional savings can be achieved by simply switching from incandescent to fluorescent lighting, which reduces energy consumption for lighting by up to 75 percent. Thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, homeowners who choose green alternatives when updating their homes could be eligible for tax credits to offset some remodeling costs. For details on available credits, go to the following website: http://www.energystar.gov.

If your remodeling project includes new exterior siding, consider having a professional evaluate the insulation in your exterior wall cavities and the energy efficiency of your doors and windows. If deficiencies are found, insulation materials such as cellulose, rock wool and some forms of foam can be installed from outside, without damaging interior wall surfaces. Adding a house wrap under new siding will markedly reduce air infiltration and exfiltration, saving on both heating and cooling costs. Tests commonly performed when evaluating the thermal efficiencies of your home can diagnose the ability of your wall, window and door systems to prevent heat loss and air infiltration. A primary technique to evaluate energy efficiency involves the use of ‘blower doors’ to test air inflow and outflow. http://www.homeenergy.org.

Replacing old single pane windows with insulated glass can save up to 25 percent on heating and cooling costs. The highest level of savings can be achieved by using so-called low-e glazing (for low emittance). Low-e coatings are microscopically thin, metal or metallic oxide layers deposited on window or skylight glass primarily to reduce radiative heat flow. Low-e glass units are available that promote high, moderate or low solar gain, depending on your climate.

Indoor Air Quality

When an older home is tightened up to promote greater energy efficiency, it’s imperative to assure that adequate ventilation is available in order to assure healthy indoor air and to prevent interior moisture build-up.

Current research indicates that our indoor air is often more polluted than outside air. This increased concern is prompted by the realization that most people spend 80-90 percent of their time indoors.

There are many sources that can negatively impact indoor air quality. These include pollutants from the outdoor environment, and the toxic chemicals used inside the home from a variety of sources. Indoor air is often further degraded by other pollutants introduced by occupants, such as tobacco smoke, smoke or particulates emitted by home appliances that burn wood, coal, kerosene, and propane (or natural gas). Other significant sources of toxicity come from sealants, cleaning products, paint, asbestos, damp carpets or fabrics, and certain pressed-wood cabinet and furniture products that release chemicals into the air. In some areas, radon (a naturally-emitted subterranean radioactive gas found in some regions) can cause serious health problems. http://www.dspinspections.com

/radon_facts.htm

Green remodeling seeks to remedy these problems with a combination of air filtration, ventilation systems and choosing to use the least toxic product options. An overview of the problem and possible solutions are available from the Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

Reduced Material Waste and Resource Conservation

As a rule, remodeling is more eco-friendly than new construction, since fewer materials and resources are consumed to remodel an old house than to build a new structure. Since 30 percent of materials disposed of at landfills typically consist of construction debris, there is a lot of room for improvement in home improvement.

Even though remodeling generally uses fewer materials than new construction, it can generate a significant wast

e stream. This results in 136 million tons of waste annually. Planning how salvaged materials can be used or recycled can lessen the costs and the impact of construction debris disposal. Good planning can pay off. If you choose not to re-use your old claw foot tub, you may find a local buyer that will be very happy to take it off your hands. The same is true about sinks, cabinets, lighting fixtures, doors, etc.

When it’s possible, using local materials, building with engineered lumber, and hiring recycling companies to remove waste all help to maximize resource use when remodeling.

Perhaps most important of all when you are considering a remodeling project, get back to the basics. Consider the advice of Sara Gutterman, co-founder of Green Builder magazine http://www.greenbuildermagazine.com:

“In order to accomplish the most desirable sustainable outcome, it is important to begin the process of remodeling with the end result in mind. Understanding the personal impetus behind your desire to remodel is paramount so that you can optimize your new design. Think about how you live in your home. Consider which spaces you use and which ones sit dark and lonely for most of the year, waiting those few special evenings when partygoers enter and infuse them momentarily with life. Many modern designs do not actually fit the needs of the typical homeowner. They often contain formal living spaces that remain unused because of their size and lack of intimacy. When we can understand that interior space is a precious resource just like clean water, air, and soil, we can begin to think more sustainably about it.”

Do you have poor ratings in FICO score card? Are you in keen requirement for money? If your answer towards both of the questions comes in the positive approach, then you are less likely to acquire a loan. It is a well known fact that all the lenders prefer to deal with persons who have good credit points. So, what if you doesn’t satisfy their criteria? Simply, most of them will decline your loan request. Now, the question emerges. Is there any option for you to support your financial needs? Absolutely yes!

You can go for the bad credit home mortgage refinance which will not only allow you to acquire the money, but also consolidate your previous loan. Now, the question arises. What are the requirements of this loan?  Well, in order to apply for this loan, you are required to bring along all the documents of your home. Sometimes, you require a little bit of luck as well. It is so because the chances of your loan approval completely depend upon the position of the economy.

For instance, if the economy is passing through its worst state as we saw in the past few years, the options of loan approval are decreased. But, still you can find out some best deals on the home loan refinance. The only thing which you require in this process is thorough research and patience.

Don’t get dishearten even if some of the lenders decline to offer you the loan. Looking around into the market you will discover endless numbers of loan providers who are just meant for the persons like you. However, it would be beneficial to consult with a mortgage broker or loan consultant before approaching such lenders. It is so because such a broker knows how to make the most out of the current tight market positions which will result into reduced interest rates for you.

Therefore, with the help of bad credit home mortgage refinance, you can easily satisfy your financial requirements.

We couldn’t always trade online

There are many reasons to start trading online today and I’d like to address three of them.  Trading online has been around for a number of years now.  Prior to online trading, people would have to phone their broker for each individual trade.  This, for the active trader was a time consuming process and probably kept most people out of active trading.  With the creation of the web, access to trading grew exponentially.

The reasons you want to start trading online today

Lower Cost – Online trading is less costly than speaking with a broker.  Less people involved in any transaction is going to bring down the cost.  Typically if you trade by speaking with a broker you are going to pay on average between $20 and up to $50 for the trade.  The range of price depends on the broker, number of shares, and type of order.  Online trades can be as low as zero (usually with a minimum balance or minimum paid trades) to about $10 for larger orders.

Faster Executions – Speaking to a broker is fine and from my experience they will get your order in fast but not as fast as you can do it yourself.  Think of it like this.  When you’re speaking to a broker what do you think they are doing?  That’s right, they are looking at a screen that is probably a lot like yours and inputting the same order you would have input yourself.

Access to After Hours Trading – What happens to the broker at the end of the day?  Many of them go home and while there may be a night shift why take the risk.  Having online access means you can get in and out of positions round the clock.  So if news comes out you will be able to shift your positions around right then.  One caution here though is be sure the online broker offers after trading and don’t just assume it’s there. 

Brokers Like Online Traders

Another reason that commissions are lower for trading online is there is less risk to the broker.  You see if you all a broker and input an order verbally there is that chance that he is going to make a mistake.  If that happens and the market moves they have to pay for any losses you may suffer but cannot keep any gains.  This is the biggest thing brokers fear because one mistake can wipe out an entire years worth of commissions. Online trading reduces this risk substantially.

It’s a no brainer

So as you can see moving to start trading online today make a lot of sense.  It’s a win for you as the trader with lower costs, quicker executions, and after hour’s access.  So get out those web browsers and start looking into how you can start trading online today.