Green House

October 2006 Special Advertising Section

As fuel prices rise and water restrictions loom, going green in your home and garden isn’t just about being kind to the planet anymore—it’s also about being gentle on budgets stretched by high energy costs.

Thanks to affordable building materials, well-designed appliances, savvy builders, and earth-loving landscapers, energy efficiencies can be realized through big changes and small purchases.

Green Revamp
During a new construction or renovation project, using green materials is especially attractive, and many architects note that more homeowners are keen to incorporate energy–efficient options that might be slightly more expensive upfront, but will save money in the long run.

For example, Zimmerman-based Massmann Geothermal & Mechanical installs heating and cooling systems that tap into the earth’s internal heat. Outdoor temperatures might fluctuate, but four feet below the surface of the ground, temperatures are relatively consistent, says Jason Massmann, the company’s owner. A system that circulates a water-based fluid through a buried loop system can take advantage of the consistency by removing a home’s warm air in the summer and depositing it in the ground—and then flipping the process in the winter.

The cost is about double that of a conventional heating and cooling system, but the immediate benefit is that a home doesn’t use fossil fuels. The savings start to really pay off in the long-term, with a reduction of up to 60 to 75 percent in heating and cooling costs. Massmann says a return on investment typically takes about five years, but as fuel prices rise, that time frame could shrink.

Another example of a green-leaning renovation and construction favorite is PMI Panels, a White Bear Lake company that installs structural insulated panels (SIPs) used to frame a house or room. Because of how the panels are built and stacked, they reduce heating and cooling costs by 50 to 70 percent compared to conventional framing, says company owner Joe Pasma.

Like geothermal, the panels are more expensive than traditional materials but save money in the long run. Also, labor costs for installation are lower, Pasma says.

“People are tired of paying high energy bills,” he notes. “They’re looking for ways to be more efficient and exploring options like SIPs.”

If you’ve stood by a drafty window, you can attest that  even adequate insulation and solid building materials can let energy savings slip through the cracks. But proper windows, such as Renewal by Andersen, can stop the breezes and start the efficiency gains.

Made from 40 percent recycled wood fiber and 60 percent thermoplastic material, the windows are designed to be as eco-conscious as the people who buy them, says Craig Evanich, president of Renewal by Andersen. The company focuses on choosing environmentally friendly components and making sure old windows and manufacturing scraps don’t get into the general waste stream.

“We aspire to make windows that last for thirty years,” Evanich says. “Not just because it’s so much better for a homeowner, but also because it affects how much goes into landfills. You build something to last, that means less waste down the line.”

Small Steps
If you aren’t quite ready to renovate, there are numerous products that can boost energy efficiency in all parts of the house. One of the best ways to make sure electricity is being utilized well is by buying appliances and other products that sport the Energy Star label.

A government-backed program that aims toward energy efficiency in lighting, heating, cooling, and even office systems, Energy Star ratings are given to products that meet stringent specifications for using less energy, saving money, and protecting the environment.

Homeowners have a bevy of choices when it comes to Energy Star appliances, including washing machines, dehumidifiers, and refrigerators. Additionally, light bulbs that have earned the label generate 70 percent less heat and reportedly last up to ten times longer than other options.

For other green product ideas, listen in on one of John Bruce’s presentations at the Home & Garden Show October 6–8. Bruce, a designer on TLC’s While You Were Out, will show samples of recycled building materials and eco-friendly plywood and hardwood alternatives. “Folks will be able to find out how this growing field of green and sustainable design impacts their design choices for better and more beautiful living,” he says.

In many cases, achieving more energy efficiency doesn’t have to cost much, if anything. Instead, it’s  a matter of becoming more aware of how a home operates and making small tweaks for a big difference.

For example, to make a heating system more effective, CenterPoint Energy recommends checking a furnace’s filters monthly, insulating ducts, keeping furniture away from vents, and opening curtains to let the sun warm the house. For cooling, awnings or tinted film can help windows reduce heat gain and therefore lessen the work for an air conditioner.  

Existing appliances can be more efficient with some energy-minded tactics as well, such as broiling with the oven door closed, allowing more space around the refrigerator for air circulation, and shutting off the dishwasher before the drying cycle begins.

Energy audits, offered by companies like CenterPoint, can help homeowners find leaks, use appliances wisely, and think more deeply about energy saving steps.

Growing Green
Energy efficiency doesn’t stop at a home’s doors. Through savvy gardening tactics, such as plant selection and tree placement, homeowners can save water and lower other utility bills.

One option is to plant trees close enough to the house so their shade cools the roof in the summer but allows sunlight to warm the home in the winter. Before the air conditioning era, homeowners relied on trees for temperature regulation, but once central air became standard in new construction, putting trees close to the house didn’t seem as important. It’s time for a blast back to the past, notes Don Engebretson, the “Renegade Gardener” and Mpls.St.Paul Magazine’s garden editor.

“People are learning that as fuel bills go up, the way people used to plant shade trees makes a lot of sense,” he says. “You can reduce your summer cooling expense by up to a third by having the foresight to plant shade trees.”

For homes in rural areas or those with large lawns in the cities, ample evergreens can also be used to block the wind. A few evergreens that keep their bushy shape in the winter will keep a house cozier and fuel bills lower.

To use less water, Engebretson suggests looking at plants that tend to do better in drier climates and are fairly drought resistant, such as hostas, daylilies, and columbine. “Native plants have thrived here for longer than we have, and they’re very moisture-efficient,” he says.

Composting is another environmentally friendly tactic that can aid gardens and help save the planet. In addition to reducing yard waste in landfills—and therefore helping reduce greenhouse gases—creating a compost pile of yard clippings will produce an organic material that can be incorporated into the soil and around plants, increasing drought resistance, says Ginny Black, organics recycling specialist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

“Basically, compost can create a material that acts like a big sponge,” she says. “If you have ten pounds of compost, it can hold a gallon of water. During long, dry periods, that means you have to water much less, and you get nutrients to your garden at the same time.”

A strategy that hasn’t caught on but should, according to Engebretson, is rooftop gardening. “It would be fun for homeowners to explore the green roof option,” he says. “Imagine a green garage roof, or a garden just off the master bedroom. Basically, you’re giving back to the earth what you took when you built the house. That’s a nice goal.”

Visit the Home & Garden Show–Fall Edition^SM to see a variety of these products and services and learn how you can become more eco-friendly.