The key factor when dealing with a contractor is to have them layout all of the available options to you, from organic insulation to low VOC paints, there are tons of ways to design with a green mind. Don’t let anyone sell you on a “boxed” solution to living green, its not about how many green products a contractor can incorporate into his bid but about how you can affordably and continuously maintain the selections you make. When it comes to cost, there are instances where greener materials will increase your budget when compared to there standard counterparts but there are many that are more affordable or cost the same. Don’t stress yourself, work within your budget, and be creative. Something as simple as painting a highly trafficked area with brighter light reflecting color will reduce the cost of lighting and brighter color paints tend to contain less harmful chemicals.

As the world at large is becoming more conscious of preserving our communal home, earth, green products are becoming more readily available and affordable. Just about every major manufacturer of paint offers a low VOC line which tends to be cheaper as well, often below two dollars a gallon. A new low-flow shower head is also a great way to save when remodeling your bathroom, and taking a shorter shower doesn’t cost a thing. Make decisions that you are comfortable with and remember there is no right or wrong way to do an eco friendly renovation.

Living green is a state of mind and ongoing thinking process, make improvements in areas where you are OK with some compromise or in areas where there is no compromise (just an informed choice in purchasing materials). Collectively the United States spends in excess of $150 billion a year in home renovations and remodeling. Focusing just a little of this revenue on environmentally conscious construction will yield untold benefits to your health and our environment.

You should strive to only use paints that are water based instead of petroleum and those that contain little or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Many VOCs are carcinogens and may cause health problems such as headaches, dizziness and irritation of the nose, throat, and eyes. In some case these chemicals can even cause impaired vision and memory. Thanks to the recent cooperation of paint manufacturers there a lot more low VOC paints to choose from and consumers can be easily informed about possible health risks. Remember to inquire about VOCs both before and after pigmentation if ordering a custom color. Many pigments contain VOCs, especially in dark richer colors.

Recommended brands include AFM SafeCoat and Mythic Paints which both offer lines that are found to contain zero VOCs. Among other brands latex based paints tend to contain fewer VOCs than oil-based paints which should be avoided if possible. If you must use oil-based paint for breath-ability and elasticity try to minimize the surfaces you cover with it.

Remember an easy way to paint green is to carefully plan out your project and not buy more paint than you need, also buy high quality durable paints that may cost more initially to save on the cost of repainting the same area year after year. To improve energy efficiency choose bright colors for heavily trafficked areas. The natural reflection of light will cut down on your need for artificial lighting.

The first place you should focus your insulation efforts is the attic, open drafty spaces above promote overall heat loss in the home. Basements are also key, if you have an unfinished basement be sure to thoroughly insulate it’s ceiling to isolate this open environment from the rest of your home. The DOE (United States Department of Energy) website provides detailed guidelines regarding insulation measurements and materials. When consulting with a contractor remember that insulation materials with high R-values provide greater resistance to heat transfer. Insulation in the attic should be at least R-30 and standard walls should be R-15 or greater.

In the basement one should insulate with rigid foam boards. You should avoid using materials like cellulose or fiberglass for the basement particularly because of the high moisture levels that may damage these materials. If the basement has a crawl space you should use six millimeter thick polyethylene sheets for the floor/ground to protect against moister. In general it is better to insulate crawl spaces opposed to ventilating them.

In general there are four basics types of standard insulation and a plethora of organic insulation materials. Standard insulation materials include batts or rolls, loose fill insulation, blankets, and rigid foam. Most loose fill insulation is composed of fiberglass, cellulose, or rock wool. This type of insulation should be used to fill areas where it is difficult to lay sheeted insulation. Rigid foam is a very effective, though some what expensive insulation material. Rigid foam really works well in places such as the attic and basement that require higher R-values. Foam can be blown into the crevices of walls to dramatically decrease air leakage.
Organic sustainable and renewable insulation materials include old denim, recycled paper, hemp, and even mushroom spores.

Organic materials do not usually have the same high R-values as their fiberglass counterparts but when used in the correct quantities they can provide the same level of insulation and save the environment from fossil fuel usage needed to manufacture other types of insulation. Some of the highest R-rated organic materials include soil, softwood, dry saw dust, and straw.