5 Ways to Start Your Green Home Renovation

1 of 5

Written by bloggers from the Center for American Progress

For many homeowners the idea of renovating a house, especially in an energy-efficient manner, can be somewhat daunting. But don’t despair. Your home can be comfortable, livable, and green. Here are five simple tips to help you start your green home renovation.

1. Get a green contractor. Consider hiring a contractor with a broad depth of knowledge about green home renovations. A green contractor is trained to make sure that your home will be “energy-, water-, and resource-efficient.” In the best-case scenario, find yourself a green contractor guru. Two such masters exist: One is a contractor designated a Master Builder by the Energy and Environmental Building Association, and the other is a Certified Remodeler, certified as such by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. To find a green contractor near you check out the Green Buildings Professional Search from Sustainable Sources, this list of the top 100 green contractors by Engineering News Record, or this page of homebuilder resources from the U.S. Green Building Council. (Bonus: Take a look at this video put together by the USGBC on the benefits of having a LEED-certified home.)

Wonderlane/flickr

1 of 5

Photo from Tom Hawk via flickr creative commons

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Mario A.

8:35AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

Thanks good reading

January 23
send a green star

James H.

3:59AM PDT on Sep 12, 2011

good read

September 12
send a green star

Roxana J.

11:02AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

thanks for the good advise!!

August 23
send a green star

Dianne R.

8:24AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

Thank you!

Ana Marija R.

5:43AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

Thank you

Lawrence T.

5:19AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

Ban Anna S. from being able to use the COMMENTS section. She just keeps posting anadvertisement for a dating site.

CAROLINE Y.

1:53AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

PLEASE HAVE A LOOK AT MY PETITION - SAVE THE DOGS OF PLETTENBERG BAY!!!

WELL DONE ON A REALLY GREAT CAUSE!!!!!

Jani O.

1:11AM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

thank you

Daniel B.

4:41PM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

Me and my sister are going on a hunger strike to promote Industrial Hemp. I am a American Solider. If I can kill another human for this country than I can also suffer to legalize a plant that i know will benefit this country greatly. Please sign the petition and spread the word. Do not just recommend it. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepetitionsite.com%2F8%2FEnd-The-War-On-Nature-Support-Industrial-Hemp%2F&h=hAQDbqUR6AQD-MxVfJoAJHGoiKyOMhAd84bi0MZutvayH7w