• Zero or low “VOC” paints, wall coverings, stains, adhesives and sealers should be used instead of materials that emit unhealthy substances unless the lower “VOC” product is really not strong or durable enough to do the job well. .

• Wood and bamboo products should have no added urea formaldehyde.

• Carpet, carpet pads and furnishings can also emit toxins. In general, organic and untreated fibers and water-based finishes are preferable.

• Manufacturer’s Data Sheets should be read to ensure that products live up to marketing promises.

• Products that have been certified by one of the following have proven sustainable qualities: .

Green Seal (www.greenseal.org) .

GREENGUARD (www.greenguard.org) .

SCS (www.scscertified.com).

• Air conditioning vents and equipment should be covered properly during the entire project.

• Possessions should be removed from the site if possible. Anything left on the premises should be covered and placed in a separate, sealed off space.

• Whenever possible, windows should be left open while work is being done. Window fans can help to exhaust dust and fumes.

• The filters in all air conditioners should be changed when construction has been completed and before occupancy. It is best to use the highest rated filters that will fit the units.

REGREEN is a set of guidelines for sustainable home remodeling projects. Jointly developed by USGBC and ASID, REGREEN addresses a wide variety of residential remodeling projects, from renovating a single room to major additions or modifications to an existing home interior. The guidelines provide a series of green strategies and case studies and address product selection as well as methodologies for sustainable home construction.

A home cannot achieve LEED Certification through REGREEN because it is a set of guidelines, not a standard. LEED for Homes is still the applicable standard for low-rise residential design and construction, and addresses new construction and gut rehabs. REGREEN provides sustainable design guidelines for residential remodeling projects on existing homes.

The Green Home Guide website of USGBC has a great deal of information on sustainable residential design:

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/guide_for_green_renovation/index.html

Many people think of environmentally responsible choices as costing more. However, sustainable design not only generates substantial long-term savings, many greener choices result in little or no additional up-front cost and some even have immediate cost savings.

Electricity is getting expensive, and costs will not go down in the foreseeable future. The EPA web site is a great source of information concerning energy savings for appliances, heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, etc. While I do not advocate replacing equipment that is working well, when you do need to replace something it’s good to limit your selections to products that have Energy Star certification. Another major way to save energy is by eliminating loss of heat or air conditioning through walls, windows etc. There are many forms of insulation, so make sure that you chose something that is appropriate for your application as well as healthy for you and the environment.

Water is another precious resource that we need to conserve. Highly efficient plumbing fixtures use a fraction of the water of their less efficient counterparts. Most major manufacturers now offer low-flow fixtures that have none of the drawbacks of the first such products that were introduced. Americans spend a huge amount of water, money and effort on landscaping. Using native plants greatly reduces the need for maintenance, saving water and eliminating the need for pesticides that are as harmful to humans as to wildlife.

Sustainable construction and interior design uses materials that are durable as well as sustainable or recycled and that are easy to recycle. Some of these products do involve a cost premium, but others actually save money. For instance, by using refurbished, rather than new systems furniture, my client did well because the refurbished furniture cost half as much as new furniture, and the client and I both did good by saving the resources and energy required to manufacture new furniture and reducing the waste associated with disposal of used furniture.