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� ,� � �. � � .� � i. SWITCH TO COMPACT FLUORESCENT tlGiiT BULBS 2. PROGRRM YOI�R iHERM03TAT 3. PLUG AIR LEAItS 4. iUtVE 11P YOUR HEAiING AN� COOLING fHVAC1 SYSTEM 5. CHOOSE ENERGY STAR� RPPLIANCES 6.R�OLfCE WATEft USf 7. SWITCH TO GRE€N PUWER 8. BUY LOCAL 4. USE LOW-V�C PRODEICTS 10. ll5E WOOD ALTERNA€IVES OR FSGCERTIFIEU WOOD PRDDUCTS 11. USE RAPIflLY RENEWRBiE F�OORING MATERIALS 12. P1RNT TREES TO PROVIDE SHRDf AlV� WIND PROTEC710€V. FOR YOUR HDUSE 13. USE NATIVE PLRNiIN.GS 14. USE NONTOXIC GARDENING TECHNIQIlES 15. CRRP04L, USE PUBLlC �RRNSPORTATION, WALK, OR BIKE WHEN PDSSIBLE 16. BUY A HIGH-EFFICIENCY CAR product that carries on that tradition— naw and in the future," sa.ys Corey Brinkema, focmer executive director of The Green Institute. "By certifying their home through Minnesota GreenStar, homeowners can be assured of a more durable and healthy hame with lower operating costs and reduced demand on the environrnent." Minrtesota GreenStar addresses these realities and seeks to transform the Minnesota residential building industry i�to on� where healthy and sustainable building practices are understaod, eco- nomically advantageaus, and sacially desirable. It not only provides standards for designing and building_ better homes, but it promotes a socio-econam- ic environmertt that makes such meth.- ods attainable to everyone. CERiIFICATIUN The unique strength of this remodeling program is in the system af project ver- ification and certification. A home ihat is registered with the program and is shown to meet its requirements through verificafian during design and construc- tio� will be certified as a Minnesota Green Homes Remodei. Ir� addition to the benefits listed above, certified proj- ects may qualify for: • M.ortgage and home equi�y rate discounts; 38 NARI Ml�I � �} f: �: �. 5ourte: "News and Fverrh" n� wtvtv.greenhomeguide.arg • Rebates on building materia#s and products; • Tax credits; • Preferred utility rates; and • Preferred homeowner and health insurance rates. APpROACH The Standards are based on guidelines that emphasize a whale-sysiems approac#� to remodeling and provide details on haw to achieve these goals by applyi:ng the key concepts of green building to the tradi- tional components of homebuilding. TNE FlVE l(EY CONCfPTS OF GRffN BUlLII1NG ARE.• + Energy Efficiency; • Resaurce Efficiency {including Durability); • Irrdoor Environmental Q�ality; • Water Conservaiion; and • Site and Community. TH£ TRAOlT10NAL COl�1PONENTS Of HOMEBUlLQING ARf: � flutdoar and Site; • Building Envelope and Systems; • Mechanicals; ■ Electrical and Lighting; • Plumbing Systems and Fixtures; • Finish Materials an:d Coatings; and • Waste Managemerrt. Visit www.mngreenstar.org fo see the many op#ions that can get your remod- eling project a G.reen5tar certificati:on. ; �� � � � � F�� < � � � � �� � _� � � �-,. ; �: �:. GREEN BUILDING AH� REMODELfNG GROWS HATIONALLY National programs for green building and remodeling are also taking of#. The U.S. Green Building Council sponsors a pro- gratrt called Leadership in Ener�+ and Environmental pesign (LEEp) for Homes. LEED for Homes is a voluntary rati�g system that promates the design and construction of high-performance green homes, includ- ing affordable housing, mass-�roduction homes, custom designs, stand-alone single- farnily hames, duplexes and #ownhouses, subur�an low-rise apartments, urban high- rise apartments, and condominiums and lofts in historic buildings. 7he 11.S. Green Building Council website www.greenhomeguide.arg offers several tips for building and �emodeling green, including a Green Home Checklisi and a Green Renovation Checklist. A SIMPLE STEP A green "step" ar�yone doing a remodel- ing project can �ake is to recycle reusable building materia€s such as doors, windows, cabinets, plumbing fix- tures, lumber, millwork, metals, coun- tertops, and flooring. Campa�ies iike the ReUse Center in Minneapolrs have had great success salvaging these prod- ucts for use in other projects. The ReUse Center is a 5aiic){3) non- prof.it er�terprise that accepts danated reusable bu.ilding materials and resells them to homeawners at signif.icantly reduced prrces. Over the past 10 years, tf�is venture has kept 35,000 tons of reusa�le constructian inaterials aut of landfiils and saved its customers more than $2 m'rllion dollars annualfy: To find out rr�are about the ReUse Center in Minneapolis, visit wvaw.thereusecenter.com Sources (nr this article: The Natiarral Assocratian o� the Remodelrng lndustry (NARI) www.nari.a�g l�innesota GreanStar www. mngreenstar. org ihe U.S. Green Building Council ww�r. greenhomegurde. org The ReUse Cenfer, 28012IstAvenUe Sauth Minneapolis, MN 55331 www. thereusecen fer. com