Tianjin Eco-City is a fascinating, 30 square kilometer development designed to showcase the hottest new green technologies and to serve as a model for future developing Chinese cities. Designed by Surbana Urban Planning Group, the city is being built just 10 minutes away from the business parks at the Tianjin Economic-Development Area, making for a commute that should be a breeze with the development’s advanced light rail transit system. Even cooler, the community’s expected 350,000 residents will be able to choose different landscapes ranging from a sun-powered solarscape to a greenery-clad earthscape to enjoy.

A web resource called Green and Save has published a breakdown of over 60 energy efficient upgrades a home owner may invest in along with an estimated annual return on investment.

I’m going to summarize a few of the items below Please note that this list does not take into account the local and national incentives for energy efficient upgrades. I can help you with that anytime.
My energy-efficiency advice is to always start with a home energy audit from a reputable auditor. He or she should be able to help you prioritize a list of upgrades specifically suited to your home and lifestyle. You are likely to find a lot of low hanging fruit that will provide immediate return on your investment.
A web resource called Green and Save has published a breakdown of over 60 energy efficient upgrades a home owner may invest in along with an estimated annual return on investment. I’m going to summarize a few of the items below, but am happy to provide you with a PDF copy of the entire list.
Please note that this list does not take into account the local and national incentives for energy efficient upgrades. I can help you find the resources you need to make a smart decision on your next upgrade. Just ask me.
Programmable Thermostat – Added cost of $115 to save $180 annually and $1800 over 10 years
Shower Heads – Added cost of $180 to save $300 annuCFLally and $3000 over 10 years
CFL Light Bulbs – Added cost of $60 to save $80 annually and $800 over 10 years
Water Efficient Toilets – Added cost of $50 to save $25 annually and $250 over 10 years
Windows – Added cost of $700 to save $300 annually and $3000 over 10 years
Insulated Ducts – Added cost of $450 to save $180 annually and $1800 over 10 years
Sealed Air Leaks – Added cost of $554 to save $180 annually and $1800 over 10 years
On Demand Water Heater – Added cost of $450 to save $120 annually and $1200 over 10 years
Solar Tubes – Added cost of $300 to save $45 annually and $450 over 10 years
Green Roofs – Added cost of $8000 to save $800 annually and $8000 over 10 years
Solar Electric – Added cost of $13,000 to save $1200 annually and $12,000 over 10 years
These ROI calculations are based on average costs of products and savings.

Governor Jack Markell, Senator Harris McDowell, Co-chair of the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), Secretary Collin O’Mara of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), and Mark Grahne, President of the Home Builders Association of Delaware announced the launch of “Green for Green” – a first-of-its-kind rebate program for Delaware homebuyers who purchase nationally certified, energy-efficient green homes. The program is a collaborative effort among the SEU, DNREC, and the Home Builders Association of Delaware.

The program provides homeowners with rebates of $3,000 – $6,000 towards the costs of newly constructed homes that have been upgraded to national green standards for energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, building materials and other conservation-oriented, energy-saving features.

“Improving energy efficiency is both financially and environmentally responsible,” said Governor Markell. “We want smarter, more sustainable home building that drives down energy use and energy cost. By encouraging green building, we are creating new opportunities in the building industry and ultimately, new jobs.”

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through the U.S. Department of Energy at a level up to $300,000, the rebates will fund energy upgrades for approximately 80 homes throughout the state. Over its first year, the program could produce an estimated 284 local construction and related jobs and $22.5 million in local income, according to a Delaware-specific study performed by the National Association of Home Builders in 2009.*

To qualify for a rebate, a home must be certified by third-party inspection to meet the standards of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) National Green Building Standard (NGBS) or LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes), and follow the guidelines of the Delaware Green for Green Program.

Three levels of rebates are being offered: $3,000 for a NGBS Silver certified home; $5,000 for NGBS Gold certified home; and $6,000 for NGBS Emerald certified home. LEED certified homes of Silver or greater qualify for a $5,000 rebate.

Generally it’s best to avoid undisturbed properties to build new homes, but not all existing developed lots are worth saving. Sometimes the house is in too poor structural condition to remain standing, or the cost to upgrade to current energy efficient standards is not cost effective. So deconstruction is a great way to salvage what you can in a responsible, but also fun way. Here are some tips:

Tips:

• First know that by deconstructing your building you are diverting so much waste from going to the landfill.
• Large or small, most construction projects can benefit from deconstruction. If it’s a small project you can often deconstruct yourself by saving light and electrical fixtures, plumbing fixtures and decorative millwork. Visit the Building Materials Reuse Association for how-to and best practices guides. Anything more complicated should be handled by a professional, especially if there’s a chance that hazardous materials are present.
• Deconstruction takes more planning than a standard demolition — coordinate which items should be included in your new house with your architect; all other items to be donated/bought, recycled or tossed should be coordinated with your contractor or deconstruction expert.
• Deconstruction also takes more time than demolition — depending on the size of the project it can take several weeks whereas demolition might take one week, max. Time also means money, so make sure you have a good understanding of how this will affect your timeline and budget.
• Some items may need a little facelift or upgrading before they’re reinstalled. For example nothing can come close to old, historic windows, but they will need to be brought up to current energy standards. Consider taking these to a refurbishing company who can give them they upgrade they need, while maintaining their historic integrity.
• Not all materials can be reused as they were originally intended. For example structural lumber, while high in quality, might not be acceptable to a structural engineer. However old wood is often quite good looking and can be used as ‘decorative’ beams, columns, etc.
• While hiring a deconstruction company costs money and is more expensive than demolition, you can make money off of it, or at least break even. Through the deconstruction process you will ‘sell’ your goods to the deconstruction company who can either sell it back to you, or give you access to their stock of salvaged goods for a trade or sum of money. Anything else is ‘donated’ and written off on your tax returns. So depending on how you choose to deconstruct you can end up profiting from being green.

Items to Consider Reusing

• Flooring
• Windows
• Columns
• Doors
• Gates & Fences
• Decorative Millwork
• Lumber
• Cabinetry
• Countertops & Tile
• Plumbing Fixtures
• Lighting & Electrical Fixtures
• Fireplace Mantles
• Brick & Stone

If you don’t have the opportunity to deconstruct, you can still use salvaged materials in your homes. Check

PlanetReuse: Reclaimed Materials Resource

• Best Salvage Shops: Online and Offline
• Re-Retail Value: The Best Salvage Shops Across The Country
• How to: Find Salvaged Materials
• Top Ten: Sources for Architectural Salvage

Visit these sites for more valuable information:

• Building Materials Reuse Association
• Deconstruction Institute

from: Re-nest

What Does The New Law Mean To You?
You’re probably wondering what this new law might mean to you and your next remodeling project. The obvious answer is a healthier home for you, your family and people that perform renovations to your home. The other obvious answer is an increased cost for contractors to adhere to the new rules which ultimately means an increased cost to you.

Over the last few months I’ve heard several small contractors say they will steer clear of and avoid older home renovations. A significant amount of small replacement window contractors will most likely go out of business and stop providing inexpensive window replacement services. While we think the new law is important in protecting public safety we also know it will result in much higher prices for consumers and less competition for consumers.

If you hire a contractor to do a renovation in your home that was built prior to 1978 be sure you hire a certified contractor. You should ask to see your contractors RRP certification prior to hiring them. Contractors performing work without the certification face penalties of $37,500 per day!