Buying a new home or remodeling?

Photo: Dave Green, photographed by Dawn Monte

Think green April 22, but think smart every day, advise Tom Monte and business partner, Dave Green, principals of Arizona Structures, a Gilbert-based general contractor working in the East Valley, Arcadia, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

New-home building has, finally, re-established itself in the Valley, with many companies offering extensive green features as standard and optional features. At the same time, because of still-diminished home values as a result of The Great Recession, many owners are updating the look and feel of their current living spaces or adding more space with sustainable features.

“Remodeling green is almost always a good idea,” says Monte, a native Chicagoan who lives in Gilbert with his wife and their three children. “Even if you’re not going to stay in a home for a while, adding basic green features makes it more attractive for buyers, many of whom are looking for homes with these extras. You set your house apart in a large market by adding them.”

But be an informed buyer, adds Green, a long-time Valley resident. “Sure, we all want to be in touch with the spirit of Earth Day. But make sure that what you’re buying is an overall good investment. For instance, if you’re thinking solar, make sure you buy a quality system from a very reputable and knowledgeable vendor. Thinking about reselling all that extra power to SRP or APS? Call them first before you buy to make sure they’rebuying and, if so, at what price.”

Remodeling green can reduce waste and energy consumption, conserve natural resources, improve both air and water quality and protect ecosystems, Monte explains. “Although going green can initially cost more up front for construction and materials, the end results are by far more beneficial to all the folks on this planet.”

Green adds that great percentage of consumers consider energy savings and environmental features and savings a priority when looking for a new home. “All of the benefits of sustainable new-home construction are just as applicable and achievable in green remodeling,” he says.

Photo: Tom Monte, photographed by Dawn Monte

Today’s kitchens and bathrooms, for example, can contain dishwashers that use 40 percent less water and toilets that operate on less than 1.6 gallons per flush — less than half of the water used by a typical toilet in the ‘80s.

“Advances in high-efficiency air-conditioning systems have led to energy usage in new systems that are typically half of what a 10-year old system would consume,” Green says. And, no- or low-VOC paints and natural and rapidly renewable materials reduce or eliminate off-gassing, a direct contributor to better indoor air quality.

Both men suggest considering three design principles whether you’re buying existing space or building new:

• Universal Design –– products and spaces that they can be used by the widest range of people possible, accounting for human diversity, including physical, perceptual and cognitive abilities as well as different body sizes and shapes;

• Sustainable Design –– using products that are made only of renewable resources, not intended to seriously impact the environment either as they are created or used; and

• Efficient Design –– optimizing home-energy efficiency through a whole-house systems approach to ensure that you and your team of building professionals consider all the variables, details and interactions that affect energy use in your home.

These include appliances and home electronics; insulation and air sealing; lighting and daylighting; space heating and cooling; water heating; and energy-efficient windows and doors.

Even small gestures promote green living in your home, new or remodeled: Change HVAC air filters per manufacturer’s recommendations; plant drought-resistant landscaping; direct landscape sprinkler heads away from the building perimeter; change light bulbs to energy-efficient ones; remove toxic liquids from your garage and storage rooms; and switch to nontoxic cleaning products.

Also, adjust thermostats to energy-saving settings while at home; use a programmable thermostat to set the temperatures at less comfortable levels when you’re not home or sleeping; keep windows open for fresh air and ventilation in good weather; and, in most scenarios, ensure your attic is properly ventilated.

A green home can also be a healthier home. “By improving indoor air quality and reducing vapors and particulates released by materials used in standard construction projects, sufferers of asthma and allergies can benefit greatly through the use of green materials in a project,” Monte says.

He recommends, however, before beginning any remodeling project, green or not green: “Understand and compare contractors, make sure your contractor is licensed and insured and green knowledgeable — and be sure there is communication and chemistry between you.”

Brown is an Arizona freelancer (azwriter.com).