TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Whether it’s recycling bottles or carpooling to work, millions of Americans take part in Eco-friendly activities every day. But how can you carry that over when building or renovating your home? In today’s Angie’s List report, we meet a couple who took “going green” to heart and are now living their dream.
Dave Brown and his wife, Jane, are loving retirement in their dream home, which was born a barn before being converted to this beautiful space using Leadership in Energy and Environment Design specifications. The internationally known LEED program recognizes sustainable building practices.
The couple worked with Peter Taggart who specializes in LEED-accredited home building. He says building green requires a long-term perspective.
The U.S. Green Building Council expects the residential green construction market to top 100-million dollars by 2018. Taggart says building green can be done on a budget with good planning that takes advantage of natural energy.
Other green features of their home include dense-packed cellulose insulation, solar hot water, an on-demand water heater, radiant heat flooring and lots of recycled wood from the original construction. These features could increase the home’s resale value, but Dave and Jane expect to stay put.
If you’re considering going green but can’t afford a whole-house conversion, Angie recommends making improvements in stages. A reputable builder who shares your eco-friendly position should be happy to work within your time-frame and budget.
