Green Building related articles from The Plan Collection

Asbestos Removal & GREEN Alternatives for Homeowners

The Plan Collection — 2009-03-17T16:25:30Z

Located in the western part of the United States, Utah is the center of information technology, transportation and a large tourist destination for outdoor recreation activities. Utah was named the fastest growing state in the United Stated in a study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureaus. The path to owning a home is an exciting time for everyone, but one that will bring additional responsibilities.

Used throughout the greater part of the 20th century, asbestos was one of the most highly sought after building materials due to its flame resistant qualities. Utahs asbestos has been as a result of its large petroleum industry. Oil giants such as BP Amoco, Chevron and American Oil all have refineries stationed in the state. Potential home buyers, re modelers or those constructing a house should be aware that homes may contain asbestos and other obsolete methods of construction. This isnt to make you worried because asbestos exposure is easily prevented by taking simple precautions. Fueling many aspects of life in the state, environmental sustainability is on the minds of citizens and those involved in construction. There are now many green alternatives that replace the need for harmful asbestos and can reduce annual energy costs in the home.

If any asbestos is suspected, the best advice is to leave it un-disturbed. Touching or breaking it off may cause it to become damaged and release its fibers into the air. Sometimes the best action is no action. Long term exposure to damaged asbestos can cause a rare but severe form of asbestos lung cancer known as peritoneal mesothelioma. With no mesothelioma cure, those involved in many industries all over the world are now receiving the proper indications and information towards the risks they face.

If asbestos removal is necessary, it may prove worth the time and expense. The removal of asbestos in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be performed by a licensed abatement contractor. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality assists citizens in the inspection, removal and safe disposal of asbestos. It is recommended that homeowners not disturb any suspected asbestos materials as this will release its fibers into the air.

Going Green!
Living in a world where environmental sustainability is a vital concern to the future of mankind, it is important to take note of the consequences of improper building materials and environmental degradation. Green options to asbestos include the use of cotton fiber, lcynene foam and cellulose. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) conducted a study which estimated a new savings of $50-$65 per square foot for positively constructed green buildings. Statistics show that the lcynene foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 25 percent annually, according to studies done by manufacturers. With a steady growth on technology and public education, there are a variety of green alternative methods of insulation which make the use of asbestos obsolete such as as lcynene, cellulose and cotton fiber. Not only do these healthy substitutes provide the same qualities as asbestos, they can even reduce annual energy costs.

Article by Joe Lederman
Mesothelioma Cancer Center

Go Green with home plan NDG-844

The Plan Collection — 2008-05-27T22:50:51Z

The NDG-844 is a modest home that could house a large family comfortably. The best green highlight is that it uses the 2470 sq. feet wisely. Four bedrooms could house up to eight people, a very large family by today’s standards, while giving each enough room to feel comfortable. The open living spaces and multi-level design give place for various activities to happen simultaneously. This keeps the materials used down, and leaves more open landscape to Mother Nature.

This is another conventional house plan, like most, that doesn’t take passive solar power into consideration. Thats okay here. You could easily put additional windows on the rear side for southern exposure and solar gain, especially in that two story great room. If your lot doesn’t allow southern exposure, sun tubes are a great idea particularly in the bedrooms and around the balcony. Natural light here would greatly reduce the need for electricity. This is a simple and extremely cost effective way to save on utilities and use the regenerative power of the sun.

As you can see by the photos, great style often means a lot of natural resources like wood and stone. Choose locally harvested stone products and look for FSC certified woods. Low and no VOC stains and varnishes will preserve air quality and reduce carcinogens in the home. The same holds true for paints. This is where you spend more money for your green. However, who can put value on healthy air and personal satisfaction?

Have a big yard? Whoever built this plan does. Landscaping is important. Try more plants and less grass. Put rain gutters around the entire roof and catch all the water coming off of it. Rain barrels can look attractive if you get them from the right place. If you want to invest in a large cistern, even better. Look into a grey water system for your indoor plumbing fixtures and appliances.

The key to this house is natural light, and lots of it, local stones and woods, low and no VOC products (insulation, paints, varnishes, adhesives, etc), and water catchments. A big roof sees lots of water. As always, insulate well and seal gaps. Greening your home creates a healthier indoor and outdoor environment, and brings deep satisfaction.

Go Green with home plan DDI105-202

The Plan Collection — 2008-05-15T19:57:06Z

The DDI105-202 has some major green advantages and opportunities. To start off with, its basically a three story home, which is not only less expensive to build than something spread out, but disturbs less ground. Its many windows and outdoor decks allow natural cooling and ventilation. Perhaps most important, it fits a lot of house into a small square footage. The size of homes has basically doubled in recent years, so a small house that works extra hard for you is a great start!

What can you do to make it green? Well to start off with, think insulation. This plan has a lot of windows and they're spread throughout the house. Passive solar is not an option and windows represent a weak point in a home's insulation. Look into a soy based spray on insulation. You'll get a tight seal around your entire house, and you wont have to worry about harmful VOCs. Other green options are total fill-in insulation, formaldehyde free batting, and other recycled batting insulators. No matter which you choose, remember to seal those air gaps.

Window selection goes right along with insulation for this home. Remember, windows are a good thing, but they dont insulate as well as a wall. Green windows will have a low U-value, low-e glazing, and an aluminum or wood frame. Vinyl frames perform well, but the material itself isn't good to the environment.

A home like this, especially a craftsman house, is just screaming for hardwood floors, stone masonry and tile, plenty of trim and crown molding, etc. Look for locally produced goods of this nature. Try FSC certified or reclaimed woods for floors, trim, and molding. Low or no VOC paints and varnishes will be important for keeping your air quality high. Energy and water efficient appliances are also key.

For this home your focus should be local materials, healthy materials (pollution and air quality), sustainably harvested woods, and energy efficiency. Stick to that and you'll end up with a healthy home that respects the environment that inspired it.

Heating Your New Home

The Plan Collection — 2008-03-17T20:00:45Z

Heating costs are an expensive part of most of our lives, unfortunately. I remember my first winter in my own apartment. My utilities jumped up to $150.00 a month. That was a hard pill to swallow, especially since my rent was only $275.00 a month! Thank goodness I didnt have to spend another winter there. Like many of you, Ive since become very conscious of the energy Im spending just to keep warm. Most of you have a more efficient system than I did (electric base board heaters), but still cringe at the cost jumps that come along with heating.

There are solutions to this problem. My parents, for example, bought themselves a wood burning stove. More than anything, I think it has a nostalgic quality for them as they were both raised in cozy farmhouses of yesterdays agricultural norm. However, they do save a lot of money each winter when the sun drops to the south and the days are lamentably shorter. To be fair, I suppose I should explain the whole situation. My father is able to gather firewood from his fathers ranch about 70 miles to the northeast. That, above all, makes his stove a possibility. Still, he spends a fair amount of time and diesel to retrieve it. Understandably, a wood burning stove isnt a viable solution for most.

Fortunately, technology has stepped in to relieve our pain, and luckily, most of you are building a new home. Integrating a new and efficient HVAC system into your home is a great way to save on energy. GreenandSave.com is a website devoted to saving the world and your pocket book one household at a time. Their residential expertise is obvious as you read through their pages and learn how to green up your house and your wallet. Pay particular attention to their Return On Investment (ROI) calculator. Take a look at radiant floors and southern orientation. Youll also notice links to look at every major HVAC brand out there. This site will help you make a number of important decisions and is definitely worthy of your favorites tab.

Mayne LEED disconnect

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-19T22:06:46Z

We like to show our readers good and bad examples from those who have built before them, so they don't make the same mistake. The fact of the matter is that codes and regulations are constantly changing. Therefore, the plans to any architectural project become paramount. The design process is where it can all start to go right, or wrong. Ensuring that your plans are up to speed may cost a little extra money, but can save you from crippling mistakes.

You cant get any higher profile of a project than Thom Maynes Federal Building. For those who are unaware, many government entities are requiring LEED certification for new buildings. LEED is the nationally recognized benchmark for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and the certification program for new construction is called LEED-NC. There are several certification levels including silver, gold, and platinum calculated on a point system that honors efforts in sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation in design. All new federal buildings, as mandated by the U.S. General Services Administration, must at least attain basic LEED certification. Mayne, his firm Morphosis, and the media were all shocked when the Federal Building did not meet the requirements.

In spite of the surprising news, Morphosis didnt necessarily do a bad job. The Federal Building has won several awards for their innovative energy saving techniques. The building uses 70% less energy than it would through conventional construction. The building is cooled almost entirely by natural ventilation. These arent parlor tricks here. Maynes design is one of the most energy efficient in the world; at least as far as installed systems go. However, only so many points are awarded for energy efficiency, and theyre not enough alone to secure LEED certification. Remember, other considerations include materials and resources, water efficiency, etc. In other words, the LEED program is aimed at embodied energy, or the energy to harvest and produce the materials, the energy to clear the land, even the energy for workers to commute to work. This building mistake has more to do with understanding the purpose of the requirements, and the broad scope of the design necessities. Mayne and Morphosis just didnt think enough about the other considerations.

Unfortunately, the mistake will likely be a costly one. Not meeting the requirements of a federally funded building probably means a breach of contract. Breach of contract definitely means damages paid, lots of damages paid. Luckily the issue isnt settled yet. Arguments for Mayne are that the LEED system isnt sophisticated enough, that it doesnt account for the innovation of Mayne and Morphosis energy efficiency. The United States Green Building Council, operator of the LEED program, says that its willing to reevaluate the project.

To our readers, the moral of the story isnt that the LEED system, or any other governing influence, should be more progressive, or sophisticated. It is that you should understand the rules and adhere to them.

via Curbed SF, Inhabitat, and JetsonGreen

Greenwashing Debates are Heating Up

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-13T21:30:16Z

I've heard a lot of talk about greenwashing lately. It's been a topic of discussion for quite some time, but it's getting more attention. Greenwashing is a term used to describe overstating a products "greenness", or, as some have appropriately put it, a products "shade of green". There are two main arguments. The first is that greenwashing is an evil practice used to deceive consumers and slow down the green movement. The second is that accusing companies of greenwashing is unnecessary slander that punishes them for taking small steps in the right direction. What do you think?

Since it's obvious that some companies will want to overstate a products green characteristics to save money, I believe that it's important to call out those who truly and blatantly greenwash. Those companies are either trying to get away with doing the bare minimum or are lying. The importance of green products is largely immeasurable due to the huge and positive effect of their collective use. The luster of green products is that they save so much money. So to lie about something so vastly important is undoubtedly a heinous sin. However, every issue has two extremes - the second being that some commentators and reporters are on a witch hunt, so to speak. Why should we seek to destroy the reputation of a company that is making small steps in the right direction? I doubt that those companies would lie about their shade of green; although, if they did while still making progress, an honest reminder of their particular shade would seem more appropriate. The worst result of the greenwashing witch hunt would be preventing a company from adopting green practices because they don't feel confident enough to go completely green. It's like the kid who doesn't go to the pool because his toes look funny.

I attended a seminar given by Penny Bonda, former president of the USGBC, who said she once asked Ray Anderson, chairman of carpet giant Interface, why they still use PVC backing. She said it keeps him up at night, but they just haven't found another product that performs as well as PVC does. That solution has yet to be found. Meanwhile, PVC will still be mass produced, using tons of petroleum and producing tons of pollution. Do we criticize them for it? Ray Anderson has been a fore-runner in the green movement for over a decade now and has developed more green business practices that almost anyone else. We have to move to a greener world, but we can only do it as fast as we are able. Greenwashing still equals bad, but lets not make fun of ugly toes.

The Global Warming Deadline

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-13T21:17:51Z

I just read an interesting article by Ross Gelbspan at gristmill.grist.org. He warns that we have passed the deadline to turn our carbon emitting habits around and that dangerous climate change is now inevitable. According to Ross, "The IPCC, which reflects the findings of more than 2,000 scientists from over 100 countries, recently stated that it is 'very unlikely' that we will avoid the coming era of 'dangerous climate change.'" He continues "As one prominent climate scientist said recently, 'We are seeing impacts today that we did not expect to see until 2085.'" So how do we react to this hard notion? How valid is the argument and how frantic should we become?

Some say that this whole thing is a hoax. As a good friend of mine pointed out, we had a global cooling scare in the 1970's. That didn't turn out to be such a big deal. So why are we all boarding the global warming train? How are things different now than they were 30 years ago? The answer is our technology. I'm not talking about our data collection abilities (though I'm sure that has evolved impressively), but rather our energy and architectural technologies. They are now advanced enough to provide us with a way of becoming more independent of the weather. We have solar and wind energy, geothermal heat exchange, high efficiency appliances, etc. These advances, though not perfect, can cut our dependency on foreign nations, cut individuals dependency on the grid, and help us withstand nature's climate fluctuations with greater efficiency. And we can do all that and reduce our indisputable damages to mother earth. So why not?

To me, the argument isn't whether global warming is a real threat, but rather pollution and rising energy costs, waste and social injustice. These are the root causes of most of our nation's problems. We should invest in the technology to create a better world. Then we don't need to squabble over who was right and who was wrong. We can just work towards a better future and a greater independence from all the variables.

Insulation

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-13T21:02:09Z

One of the most fundamental ways to green up your home and save on energy bills is properly insulating your home. This in turn is great for the total environment, because most heat comes from fossil fuels. Traditionally, insulation has struggled with three main obstacles: formaldehyde, low r-value, and air gaps. Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound or a VOC that stinks. Remember dissecting the frog in high school? VOCs create poor indoor air quality over a long period of time and are known to cause a number of diseases. R-Value speaks of insulations ability to control temperature. Just remember, the higher the better. Lastly, air gaps greatly reduce a products ability to perform. Air gaps must be filled in to receive the full benefit of insulation. Here's a quick breakdown on different options for insulating:

Batting (usually pink). Though this has a dominant hold on the industry, it's not necessarily the best choice. This product is less expensive up front and doesn't need professional installation. That's the pro. The cons are lower r-values and air gaps. The specific r-value will vary from product to product, but is generally lower than other products. Air gaps are impossible to seal with batting. Environmentally friendly options include formaldehyde free and recycled content batting

Total-Fill Insulation: Total fill is a great product that comes at a mid price range. The product is installed differently for a tighter blanket. First, a thin membrane is stapled to the exposed wall studs. Next, a fluffy insulation is blown in between the studs, held in by the membrane. Tightly packed, the gaps between your wall studs are totally filled in, hence the name. The pros include a higher r-value, formaldehyde free options, and filled air gaps. Note: a filled air gap isn't necessarily a sealed air gap. That's the con with total-fill products. Even with a tightly packed insulation, air gaps cause problems and lower performance.

Spray Foam: Air gaps can only be filled with a spray foam. This product must be professionally installed and costs more than other alternatives. However, spray foams have several advantages. First, foam seals air gaps everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Second, foam can be made of safe organic material like soy. Third, because air gaps are completely sealed, the r-value is greatly enhanced.

There are ways to seal air gaps and use a less expensive product. Most hardware stores carry a spray foam product in cans that can be directly applied to air gaps before installing your insulation. This is an inexpensive, though sometimes tedious, solution to a lower insulation budget. Just remember, a home is an investment. If it's not constructed properly, it can cost you much more money in the long run than green products cost up front. Fortunately, green products are coming down in price and we can start saving our monthly income along with the environment.

For helpful information, check out the videos at Mainstream Green.

The Green Roof

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-13T20:51:02Z

Urban areas create several environmental problems. A major problem discussed widely now is the urban heat bubble. Asphalt on roads, parking lots, and roofs reflect heat into the air. This causes a heat problem. Other issues involve water. The asphalt and concrete that make up our urban areas do not absorb the water, so we get flash flood effects in our storm drains and sewer systems. Another problem is air pollution. Not only do we clear land full of oxygen producing plants, but we put carbon dioxides in the air.

These are all issues that green roofs can help solve:

reduce ambient air temperature, energy use, and utility costs

help cleanse the air and water

utilize local and recycled materials

extend the life of the roof

improve aesthetics

create green space for humans and wildlife while providing a psychological and physical respite from urban surroundings (Velazquez)

Green roofs are generally intended for flat commercial roofs. The weight is greatly increases and the roof should be engineered accordingly. Residential roofs can potentially support a green roof system. I suggest looking into a modular system. Do your homework before installing any kind of green roof system. Plants should be selected to withstand a windy and hot climate. Drought and cold resistance is also a good idea for most of the United States and Canada.

Green Resources

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-13T20:39:35Z

I just know that there are several of you out there who will run into my humble green blog and wonder (as cliché as this approach may be) "How can I go green?" or "How can I find green products?" The answer is kind of hard unless you know where to go. So here are a few sources that I've found useful.

Building Green: these guys are truly a neutral party. They don't accept advertising, so they're unbiased in their reports. Go to www.buildinggreen.com

United States Green Build Council: or the USGBC. They are the nationally accepted authority on green buildings. They have a certification program that is the benchmark for ecologically friendly building. Their resources are invaluable. Go to www.usgbc.org

Green and Save: an experienced architect's new project. Charlie Szoradi has 20+ years in green architecture and shows how long different green products take to pay for themselves. Go to www.greenandsave.com

NAHB: a residential authority. This site has loads of resources regarding your green home. This support website offers valuable insight. Go to www.toolbase.org/ToolbaseResources/level3.aspx?BucketID=2&CategoryID=17

These are just a few that I like. They have a lot of technical data, and a lot of easy to read stuff. You'll also find plenty of conferences and classes that usually come at a small cost. Check them out. Let me know what you think.

Consequences

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-13T20:28:29Z

You know, I've been thinking a lot lately on the impact our lifestyle choice has on the rest of the world. This is probably, or at least should be, a pretty well covered topic out there, but it's been on my mind lately. I'm currently in an Architectural Systems class at my University and our professor was sharing some stories about building techniques and lifestyle in the 70's. Apparently, and I know this because of my parents house, they didn't really worry too much about insulating homes. Gas was so cheap that the necessity to worry about our energy sources just wasn't there. No wonder environmentalists were considered hippies; not that I want to take the hippie title away from any proud hippies out there. But, now that we're in an energy crisis, and we've all begun to accept the green gospel, building practices and hippies are taken a lot more seriously.

And with good reason. Oil is used for more than just cars. It's a major source of energy in both the construction and the maintenance of our homes. Can you imagine the political implications of reducing and eliminating our dependency on oil? We would visit foreign regions for humanitarian reasons, to share our knowledge of green building and conservation, instead of negotiating high stakes business. Sustainability in green design refers directly to how long a structure or a product will last, and how well it can be reused. Certainly sustainability as a country is no less valuable. The fact is, green design issues cover all sorts of topics: protecting our environment, improving our economy, enhancing our personal health and welfare, and decreasing our nations dependence on foreign product. These are just a few.

Oil is just the big one. There are a thousand other resources that are being manipulated, all while damaging the environment and our economy at the same time. The fact is, green design has a proven track record of extremely beneficial economic implications. Green products reduce the need for energy, which is very pocket friendly. The great thing about the green movement is that it has something for everyone. For you business owners, you can save a whole lot of money. I know you like money. For you anti war folks, we can reduce the number of issues that often contribute to warfare. For grandmas bridge club, there's cleaner air, ergonomic chairs, and 100% post consumer made playing cards (holla back). I'll end my thought session with a few statistics that show our potential for advancement and change...

By 2030, about half of the buildings in America will have been built after 2000

The country will need about 427 billion square feet of space

About 82 billion of that [new volume] will be from replacement of existing space and 131 million will be new space

50 percent of that 427 billion will have to be constructed between now and then

Most of the space built between 2000 and 2030 will be residential space

The largest component of this space will be homes

Over 100 billion square feet of new residential space will be needed by 2030

Percentage-wise, the commercial and industrial sectors will have the most new space with over 60 percent of the space in 2030 less than 30 years old

sources: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/007475.html and further http://www.citymayors.com/development/built_environment_usa.html. thanks guys.

Green Light

The Plan Collection — 2008-02-13T19:58:38Z

Lighting is a major source of energy consumption in a residence. There are a few simple things that can reduce your dependency on the light bulb.

Windows in the right places. It's best to put more windows facing south to absorb as much sunlight as possible. Windows on the other sides of the house help as well, but not as much. Make sure you get well insulated windows. The more efficient, the more expensive, but only up front.

Light shelves on all south facing windows. A light shelf is a reflective surface located near the top of the window that bounces the light toward your ceiling and farther into the house. There are both exterior and interior light shelves, and it works best if you install both systems.

Florescent and LED lighting. The incandescent light bulb is inefficient. You'll save quite a bit of money by switching to florescent, and even more with LED systems. Again, they are more expensive up front, but pay for themselves pretty quickly.

Dimmers. Make sure you put dimmers on as many lights as possible. Not only can you change the ambiance of any room, but you can control the amount of energy you are using.

Just a few tips on lighting. Hope this is helpful. If your builder doesn't know much about green design, just ask me and I'll find the answers for you. There are also plenty of online sources out there. Look for sources that aren't so biased. There are manufacturers out there that exaggerate their 'greenness'. I can help a bit with that one too. I'll work to post articles about green design periodically. You can also see more info at www.houseplans.info.

6 Easy Ways to Green Your Home

The Plan Collection — 2008-01-08T18:58:34Z

Green Design is a popular buzz word and a money saving tactic. Many great steps are being taken in the architectural world to green up our actions and decision making. This is an important step in saving our planet and greening up our wallets at the same time. However, the residential world is slow to take on the green movement. While many home products are designed with the ecosystem in mind, the vast majority of new and existing homes are not optimized to green standards.

So how do you get a green home? Are the plans different? Do they look different than any other home? We want to show you how any home can be eco-efficient with a few simple steps. Going green is easier than you’ve ever imagined!

The boys and girls at GreenandSave.com have stepped up to help us. Not only do they provide in depth descriptions of how to green up your home operation, but they've put together a Return On Investment calculator to help you understand the bottom line. Make sure you check them out and save some money. In the mean time, enjoy this video segment featuring Charlie Szoradi and Mark McGraw, two of the founding members of GreenandSave.com, as they tell you six simple ways to update your home and save some green.

comment on green home plans.

See the Return on Investment for GREEN Home Remodeling

The Plan Collection — 2007-12-12T18:22:00Z

By Charlie Szoradi
Now you can take any house plan and add the green finishes and systems that have real payback for your wallet and the environment.

While Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio have done a great job making films to inform Americans about Climate Change, Green Architects Charlie Szoradi and Master Carpenter Mark McGraw, along with a team of partners have spent two years building an eco-friendly house and a website that shows mainstream Americans how to help themselves and also save the polar bears.

GREENandSAVE.com is the first site to offer Return On Investment (ROI) rankings for home improvement projects that not only save you money but also help save the environment. The house remodeling site is designed for both hands-on weekend Do-It-Yourself DIY home improvers as well as people that just want to learn more information and then call in the installation experts or inform their builder.

Out of all the ‘green’ and all of the house remodeling websites, GREENandSAVE stands apart. First, the prototype eco-friendly house looks, feels, and functions like a traditional American home rather than a technology experiment, and second the website is the very first to provide a customer friendly ranking by ‘Return On Investment’ for over 50 of the top ways to improve your home. Typically, people ask, “What’s the Payback on ‘Green’ House Remodeling?” and this site has the surprising answers.
Extensive research from Government Reports to Product Specifications and from University Studies to Homeowner Results, has generated the information. Several hundred dollars well spent can go along way to save thousands over just a few years. The ‘Calculation’ summaries include elements like initial extra cost, payback in months or years, annualized savings, and the ROI ranging from Programmable Thermostats to Photovoltaic Solar Panels. Homes are Americans’ largest investment, and since buildings account for over 40% of the national energy use, each step to make them ‘smarter’ goes along way to reduce the harmful CO2 output that it takes to generate the energy.

The new website for House Remodeling is also unique in that it speaks to homeowners based on what they need at this point in their lives. As an example, visitors can search on Remodeling for their Kitchens, or go straight into High Efficiency Furnaces in the Heating section. Each topic page includes the photographs, descriptions, ROI modeling, and a ‘TAKE ACTION’ section with information on the top rated products, links to Grants, Tax Credits, or Installers, plus the research and direct access for the best places to make a purchase. The site also offers three paths of engagement:

1) Light Green Home Improvement - Learn how to save money by just ‘tuning’ up your home.
2) Medium Green Home Improvement - Remodel parts of your home, turn up the savings, and use cost-effective eco-friendly and healthy products.
3) Dark Green Home Improvement- Transform your home into a High-Performance Residence: Save money, generate power, reduce utility dependence, and use eco/healthy systems.

The Green Home Improvement site has been favorably embraced by a diverse range of environmental experts, editors, and bloggers, and even over the first week of its soft launch the site was featured in an article that ran on the Home Page of the #1 green lifestyle resource TreeHugger.com that has almost 1.5 Million monthly visitors. GREENandSAVE.com includes eight categories with three major sub-sets for each. Remodeling: Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Basements. Finishes: Floors, Walls, and Windows. Appliances: Dishwashers, Washer/Dryers, and Refrigerators. Energy Savings: Electric, Gas, and Water. Heating: Furnaces, Radiant, and Solar. Cooling: A/C, Fans, and Ventilation. Landscaping: Garden, Lighting, and Patio/Deck. Lifestyle: Accessories, Furnishings, Health.

About Charlie and Mark: Charlie Szoradi is the GREENandSAVE founder. He is the son of an Architect and brother of an Environmental Photographer. As a Green Architect, Charlie has transformed his own house, along with the help and patient support of his wife, young son and also Mark McGraw, to create a sustainable residence over the past two years. Mark McGraw is one of the GREENandSAVE founding partners. He is a talented carpenter, on air co-host for HGTV’s “Spice Up My Kitchen”, and he has a great love for the outdoors. Mark is intimately familiar with homeowner needs, the means to reach their goals, and the way to clearly communicate the process.

For more information go to: GREENandSAVE.com