The Blog

April is Earth Day month and “reduce, reuse, recycle” is the rally cry.  

We often think of going green in subtle daily ways like turning off the lights when we leave a room, installing a smart thermometer, shopping for second-hand clothing, or repurposing household goods. Although these simple initiatives make us feel like we’re making a difference, we need to consider new ways to go green.

Two-thirds of all non-industrial solid waste in the United States is attributed to construction debris. According to a 2009 Environmental Protection Agency report, each year the United States generates 160 million tons of building-related construction and demolition debris.  

With renovations, we often talk about the benefits to the homeowner–and there are many. What we gloss over sometimes is how renovating benefits the environment.

In fact, in the residential building sector, renovation is the ultimate green.

How does renovating help the environment?

Renovation, as opposed to demolition, decreases the load on landfill space and reduces the environmental impact of manufacturing or producing new materials. Choosing to renovate can reduce the overall construction expense by avoiding additional material purchases, in addition to disposal cost.

The environmental impact of saving even a small building can have a big effect.

Donovan D. Rypkema, principal of Place Economics, puts this in terms easily understood. Take recycling our aluminum cans. Everywhere you go from airports to zoos there are recycling bins for soda cans. These exist because we know it’s good for the environment.

Now, consider a small building 25 feet wide and 100 feet deep. If we were to tear that small building down, Rypkema states that, “we have now wiped out the entire environmental benefit from the last 1,344,000 aluminum cans that were recycled. We’ve not only wasted a historic building, we’ve wasted months of diligent recycling by the people of your community.”

“Let’s say that today we tear down one small building [25 feet wide by 100 feet deep] like this in your neighborhood. We have now wiped out the entire environmental benefit from the last 1,344,000 aluminum cans that were recycled.” – Donovan D. Rypkema

How can repair outrank replacement?

With the growth of the green movement’s popularity, comes the growth of a market niche for green products. Today there are thousands of vendors creating eco-friendly products and advertising campaigns vying for consumer dollars.

Unfortunately, these eco-conscious efforts sometimes lead to negative side effects. By replacing items, consumers are actually doing more harm to the environment than good.

For example, consider single-pane windows. On a game day in south Louisiana, televisions across the state are flooded with ads for personal injury attorneys and energy-efficient replacement windows. Many can be lured into the idea that replacing old single-pane windows is the holy grail of being energy conscious.

Which is wrong.

The majority of heat is lost through the attic and walls–not the old, single-pane windows. The most energy-efficient approach (and the least expensive) is not to replace all the windows, but to add more or better insulation. As Rypkema explains, “Adding three and a half inches of fiberglass insulation in the attic has three times the R factor (a measure of thermal resistance) that replacing a single-paned window with the most energy-efficient version would have.”

What are the best green materials and design elements?

Reclaimed and salvaged woods are great materials for countertops, flooring, and walls. Using this popular alternative, as opposed to newly manufactured products, will decrease the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

In another study conducted by Rypkema, he concludes that 350 tons of waste from a house demolition is sent to landfills, while only 50 tons of waste is sent from renovations. Renovating a home will decrease waste entering landfills, overall helping out the environment.

An effective green design element is adding natural light to a home. By using natural light, it will lessen the use of artificial light, which saves energy. The use of natural light instead of artificial light is the easiest way to conserve energy and preserve our planet.

When painting, use earth-friendly paints like odorless low volatile organic compound paints. Typical paints contain harmful VOC chemicals. When they enter the air, they can produce ozone, which causes air pollution and health problems for people. By choosing low VOC paints, you can reduce the number of dangerous chemicals that enter your airways.

What are other ways to help the environment when renovating a home?

Donate all unwanted items to Goodwill, a crafty friend, or Habitat for Humanity. Donating items is an active way to give back to the community and help the environment. When it is time to pick out appliances for a home, try to choose energy-efficient appliances. Keep in mind, the more deluxe and larger the appliance, the larger the energy bill. To spot an energy-efficient appliance, look for the image below:

On May 3, 2019, the Louisiana Trust Historic Preservation will host the 2019 Louisiana Annual Preservation Conference in Downtown Baton Rouge. Donovan D. Rykema, principal of Place Economics, will be a keynote speaker from 1:45-2:45 p.m. He will be discussing a recent report on Louisiana Main Street Communities at the Old State Capitol. 

If you are considering renovating your home and need some assistance, click here to learn more about residential renovations and design consultations.

© 2019 Kevin Harris, Architect, LLC

Kevin Harris, Architect, LLC designs custom homes to satisfy, support, and sustain our client’s best life, to be an authentic expression of their site, lifestyle, and culture, while remaining rooted in history and expressive of the times. For more information on Kevin or the firm go to www.kevinharrisarchitect.com.