Insurance Restoration: Green Remodeling

Most of us with existing homes are probably not working on plans to sell our homes and build an award-winning Green home. I'm just saying! However, many of us will experience some type of loss at our home that will require remodeling repairs. Others may be planning a remodel of an existing room. In either case you can still THINK GREEN!

What many people fail to understand about Green building is that it is an environmental effort, both within the home and outside. The effort is to lessen the impact on energy & the environment while increasing the quality of life inside the home. Some efforts include better insulation, use of products with recycled content, use of items which do not give off volatile organic compounds, energy efficient appliances & lighting, etc. I encourage you to research the many options available to you to improve the quality of life within your home, one room at a time.

And, lest I forget, you may want to check with your insurance agent in the near future. Some (i.e. Chubb, Travelers, Fireman's Fund, etc.) are now offering Green Upgrade policies which will allow you to upgrade to Green products if you experience a insurance loss to your home.

Jerry Quarles - Estimator

25 Ways To Help Save the Planet

The following suggestions can help us do our part for the environment without a whole lot of effort.
1. Use a programmable thermostat. This way you won't waste energy heating and cooling your home while you are aay. If you go one step further and turn the thermostat down two degrees in the winter and up two degrees in the summer, you'll keep nearly 880 pounds of carbon dioxide from warming the earth.
2. Be judicious about washing clothes. Standard washing machines use about 40 gallons of water per load. Try and save a load every week, by using only full loads and if you wash in cold water, you save even more energy.

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“Go Green” With a Free Solar Clothes Dryer!

With all of the interest in "going green" and saving energy, I have a couple of thoughts.

Remember years ago when our mothers and grandmothers and perhaps even ourselves, used the clothesline to dry our clothes? Remember how wonderful the sheets smelled? They even sell air fresheners with a scent called "fresh linen"! They don’t come close to the smell of fresh, sun-dried sheets, but they have a good idea there.

Well, these days, most communities and subdivisions have covenants banning the use of clotheslines, so that may be out of the question for most homes today. However, you can either use regular clothes hangars or buy a small collapsible plastic coated wire or wooden rack to dry some of your clothing. And that can amount to a considerable savings. Ikea sells several different models and Target and Wal-mart usually stock them as well. Simply purchase one of these for your basement, laundry room or the back of a door and you will not only save, but spare the wear and tear that the dryers put your clothing through. Think of the wear and tear that bumping around in the dryer inflicts on delicate undergarments and sweaters. And if the solar part and the "fresh linen" scent intrigue you, try putting the rack out on the deck or hanging the sheets on your back deck railing!

 I have a wire drying rack in my basement that I use at least four times per week. What does that save me? Well, if the average cost to run an electric drying is 40 cents, that adds up to nearly $100 a year. Is it worth it for your family? Think about it!

Kathy Reets - Co-Founder and Owner