|
 ABC's popular home makover show, Extreme makeover: Home Edition, will air their first green makeover this Sunday at 8pm EST. Led by Doyle Custom Homes and the Building Industry Association of Washington , the green remodeling project takes on a 100 year old Seattle area home that was plagued with lead paint, asbestos tiles and rotting floor joists. The green makeover plans to remodel the home to ENERGY STAR and National Green Building Standards to give the home's family, the Chapins, not only a safer place to live, but a more affordable one as well.
The green makeover will feature improvements in the following areas:Energy Efficiency - The Chapin's new home is being remodeled to be 30% more efficient than the standard new home. Energy efficient features include a new high efficiency gas furnace, a tight duct system and properly sealed building envelope, energy efficient windows and doors, and ENERGY STAR approved light fixtures and appliances.
Indoor Air Quality - The Chapin's new home will feature dramatically improved indoor air quality through the use of formaldehyde-free building products, low VOC paints and interior finishes, eliminating dust and moisture trapping carpet and detaching the garage from the house to prevent fumes from entering the living space.
Water Conservation - A variety of measures will be put in place to reduce water use both inside and outside the Chapin home. Indoor water conserving features include dual-flush toilets, low-flow faucets and showerheads and water-saving appliances. Water conservation continues outdoors with drought-resistant landscaping, a drip irrigation system, pervious pavers for the driveway and patio and a rain garden for the storage of excess rainwater.
Waste Reduction - With 40% of our landfill waste coming from construction sites, the green makeover of the Chapin home placed a special emphasis on recycling. Demolition debris and construction waste from the project was diverted to recycling facilities which specialize in management of construction waste.
Environmentally Friendly Materials and Practices - The materials used in the green makeover of the Chapin home were chosen to have a minimal impact on the environment. Wood flooring came from forests certified to be sustainably managed by the Forest Stewardship Council , tile was chosen based on its high recycled content and the cabinetry is made of fast-growing, renewable wood products.
We're not personally fans of the show due to concerns over the quality of work that is done in rebuilding a home in a week. That said, we'll be sure to tune in this weekend to see how ABC manages their first green makeover. We encourage you to do the same and would love to hear your thoughts. |
(1) Comments