Eco-friendly remodeling may be an alternative to moving

Though many Americans may be interested in moving into a new more eco-friendly home, not everyone can afford to. Still, some are using remodeling as an alternative channel to have "green" features added to their current property, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

The organization recently granted eco-friendly design company Renewal-Design Build a southeast regional award for an energy-efficient home remodeling project it completed in Decatur, Georgia.

The company says its goal is to incorporate sustainable materials in an effort to promote energy conservation and curb the effects of global warming.

Some materials the company uses, according to the source, include Energy Star rated exhaust fans and humidifiers, high efficiency windows and doors, tankless water heaters and geothermal heating and cooling devices.

These remodeling techniques may also save homeowners money in the long-run by replacing aging and inefficient equipment, the source says.

"A typical green project adds 10 to 15 [percent] to the construction cost," said David Michelson, president of Renewal Design-Build. "However, as the price of energy continues to go up, the payback accelerates when people build green homes and they can see dramatic decreases in their monthly utility bills."

Green residential properties are becoming more common and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program recently expanded it's certification system to include homes.

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