Case Design/Remodeling, a residential remodeling and home improvement company, has released a list of six green home design tips for use by homeowners. The comprehensive list was collected and prepared by Matt Dirksen, a project engineer employed at Case. He is a Green Advantage Certified (GAC) designer with over 15 years of exposure in home remodeling.
According to Dirksen, before commencing a home remodeling project, an energy audit needs to be performed after collecting details about gas, water, and power usage. He suggests home owners to take benefit of natural lighting and shade for heating as well as cooling a home and recommends the usage of LED or compact fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs. He urges the use of materials with zero volatile organic compounds and recycled materials in the construction. For the purpose of saving water, he suggests the use of shower heads/faucets with low level of flow and dual-flush toilets.
Dirksen presses the need for a good insulation for doors, windows, and pipes and adequate ventilation to allow water vapor to escape through to avoid molding. Finally, he recommends the replacement of the existing appliances such as dishwaters and refrigerators with ENERGY STAR rated appliances to conserve energy.
Source: http://www.casedesign.com/