USGBC's Bob Vila-worthy Green Remodeling Standards

Green buildings are so common now, that when I hear about a major construction announcement and they don't mention sustainable features, I wonder what's up. Even the lumberyards are catching on. LEED is the undisputed gold standard for new building projects, but when you want to remodel your 20 year old ranch-style home, you might feel a little in the dark about how to do it efficiently. Until now. The U.S. Green Building Council and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) have released their REGREEN Guidelines to help homeowners feel good about updating the look of their abode.

“Consumers overwhelmingly want greener homes, and the REGREEN Guidelines will help by showing them how,” said Michelle Moore, Senior Vice President, U.S. Green Building Council. “Surveys show that not having enough good information from trusted sources has been a huge obstacle. The REGREEN Guidelines empower people with practical information about how to green projects.”

The groups hope that the guidelines will inspire a big change in the $200 billion dollar a year home renovation market. That number is expected to double in the next 5 years, with the current median age of American digs reaching a creaky 30 years.

The guide offers general advice about the major elements of approaching a green-ovation such as the site of your home, materials, and efficiency in energy and water. However, its far from being a collection of generalizations. It gives users a blueprint for 10 common remodels, from individual rooms like kitchens and baths to ambitious major additions and down-to-the-studs gut jobs. The manual includes specifics on dealing with existing issues, strategies for each project and case studies to round things out. Overall, a really impressive starter kit for the sustainable homeowner.