Things to-do Before You Start Green Remodeling

1. Be informed: Green remodeling is a wonderful idea, but you should not jump into it without first understanding what it is and what it requires. You need to understand how un-green your house is now, what you can change, what you cannot and what are your options. Start by researching websites like http://www.epa.gov; http://www.energy.gov; http://www.energystar.gov; http://www.usgbc.com and other websites that will provide with resources on green building.
2. Do some home-work: You cannot start remodeling without first figuring out what is wrong with your house the way it is. Of course, a good remodeling contractor will help you with this, but it is good if you have some idea of your own. Start by finding out how un-green your house is currently. Carry out an energy-audit to find out how much energy your house consumes currently; calculate how much water you waste everyday and also what kind of harmful materials your house is using currently. The EPA website is a one stop shop for all info needs. Once you have some idea of how much your house accounts for environmental degradation, you can now have an intelligent discussion with your contractor.
3. Don’t forget the finances: Remodeling, green or not requires a decent sum of money. However, when it comes green remodeling, most authorities loosen their purse strings quite a bit. Most cities and counties in the US provide many incentives to homeowners for going green, in terms of tax benefits. Check with your county clerk or city civic authorities. Private organizations also offer loans to homeowners for green remodeling – for example – GE. Most importantly, you need to determine the current value of your home, and what the value of your home might be after it is green built. If the equation doesn’t sound appealing, you might want to think it over.

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