Go Green!

Let’s face it – the mere mention of “green building” can be annoying to some.  Who among us hasn’t been disappointed to find out that a new trend was simply a marketing ploy to get us to buy something?  However, there are a number of green features that we can all agree are a great addition to any home.  I mean, who doesn’t want cheaper utility bills?  Let’s just start with some of the more popular insulation techniques designed to lower your heating and cooling bills.

Increased insulation comes in various forms, everything from recycled blue jeans to blown-in insulation to sheep’s wool.  Costs vary by location and should be weighed along with how much surface area will actually be covered.  Remember, only the insulation on the exterior walls and ceilings will significantly lower energy bills.  Windows allow most of your heat & cold to escape, even the best of them.  The R-value of a really good window is R-4.  The R-value of a good wall insulation is about R-28.  There’s a lot of difference between the two.  So, if your exterior walls are covered in windows, the additional insulation will yield less result in your utility bills.  Make sense?

For more information about this and other green building issues, contact your local building professional.  If you’ve learned something helpful about lowering utility bills, feel free to share it here.