Met Eco (continued)
—
MH: Does green have to cost more?
Gitt: When you’re buying a countertop, you can choose granite or Formica. It’s no different in the green world: There are some very expensive countertop options, and there are other options that are less expensive.
Harrison: Sometimes, green is cheaper. Stacked framing – where studs 24 inches on center support ceiling joists 24 inches on center, and so on -- uses less lumber than conventional framing. You could spend some of the savings on additional insulation and better windows that result in lower heating costs for the life of the home.
Freed: We talk very frankly with clients about return on investment. In the Bay Area, we tend to see a five- to ten-year return on solar panels. Of course, the farther north you go, the longer it will take to make back your investment.
Harrison: This is an issue for Americans, who move once every five years on average and so often don’t think beyond that timeline. Ideally we would be doing these things not just for ourselves but for the house’s future owners as well.
Lenard: One thing to keep in mind is that even if you do spend a little extra in construction costs, you get a better building or space, so it’s money well spent.
Gitt: It would help if people could recoup the cost of green renovations when they sell their homes. But too often that doesn’t happen. That’s why we’re launching GreenPoint Rated, a consumer label for new, remodeled and existing homes. The idea is to have a neutral third party tell buyers how well a house performs environmentally.
MH: We’ve talked about saving energy and water; about using recycled materials as well as materials that can be recycled someday; and about indoor air quality. Are there other elements to making a house green?
Harrison: We haven’t talked about location, which is very important. Choose a house in an urban, walkable neighborhood, that is, one within a good walkshed [see WalkScore.com]. That makes a huge difference in overall household energy use—as well as in the health of the inhabitants.
Freed: We include community in our definition of green. We ask our clients to include at least one feature that benefits people around them. In one case, it was a bench in front of the house. Another client has a 14-foot blank wall right on the street, so we covered it with slate and put out chalk—people can write and draw, and then the rain washes it away. Another client hung a disco ball outside. They light it at night, and people walking by sometimes start dancing.
MH: I won’t ask how much energy that uses.
Freed: The solar panels on the roof help with the lighting! Besides, it was a renovation. And renovation is inherently green -- you’re recycling a building.
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