Remodel Safely: Protect yourself and the Environment while saving Money

This article was submitted by the editorial staff at the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

There are many things to consider when remodeling or buying buying an older home. Homes built before 1980 could easily contain asbestos. Of course, even homes build after 1980 still may contain products that are worth taking note of. As technology and long-terms cost efficiency is constantly evolving, so too is our need for environmentally and health safe building materials. If you are interested in remodeling, saving money and improving your environmental standing in the world, then here is some information to get a project started in the right direction.

In the Beginning

If you’ve thought about remodeling a home that was built before 1980, you’ll probably be faced with a number of toxic materials during the process, not the least of which will be asbestos. Asbestos insulation was used in millions of homes during the housing boom of the 20th century and though it’s safe to be around when it’s enclosed or in good condition, damaged asbestos can be a real problem. It can cause dfferent types of mesothelioma, such as peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. In addition, removing asbestos in order to replace it with a healthy alternative can be a pain as well – it needs to be removed by a licensed professional – but the end result is well worth the time and expense.

Asbestos Removal

Nonregulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated.

The health risks involved in handling non regulated asbestos materials is small but the removal should be done in a manner that will minimize the release of fibers due to breakage. It is recommended, because breakage in inevitable, that one wears asbestos related safety equipment including a disposable tyvek suit, gloves and must be medically able to wear a half mask respirator with High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, and adhere to the principles of wet removal and without visible emissions.

Removal in workplaces, schools and public facilities must be done by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor.

Disposal

The best way to dispose of asbestos is to bury it or any way that will prevent it from becoming airborne.

Service area landfills will often accept large amounts of asbestos provided it is properly contained or shipped in bulk.

Clean ways to Insulate

Building Green

Most individuals give little thought to what’s being consumed when they turn on their lights or fire up their furnace. Few workers pay attention to whether or not they’ve turned the air conditioning off when they leave their office building or whether they left the faucets dripping in the company washroom.

In a world where electricity is expected at the flick of a switch and where water rarely fails to flow from the bathtub or shower, the Green Building Resource Center estimates that in the U.S., buildings account for:

36% of total energy use
65% of electricity consumption
30% of greenhouse gas emissions
30% of raw materials use
30% of waste output (equal to 136 million tons annually)
12% of potable water consumption

So many buildings. So much waste. And with the building boom continuing, despite present economic hardships, adherence to construction practices other than what’s become known as “green building” will surely continue to increase the proverbial “carbon footprint.”

Benefits of Green Construction

Thankfully, however, the idea of “building green” is gradually becoming much more than a trend. Builders and investors are recognizing that eco-friendly construction provides not only long-term positive environmental benefits but also immediate financial payoffs as well.
Cities throughout the U.S. and the world are also slowly recognizing the necessity of green construction practices in the remodeling and renovating of older residential and commercial facilities, taking advantage of loans offered to them by various foundations, designated for the purpose of upgrading lighting and heating and cooling systems in aging buildings, where the most energy is consumed.

Such initiatives also prompt the need for healthier and more cost-efficient options in the world of building materials. Indeed, the United Nations Environmental Program says that the use of recycled building materials, like cotton fiber insulation, in addition to the installation of energy saving appliances and the maximization of natural lighting in a building, can reduce energy use energy use by 25 to 35 percent. In some best-case scenarios, they say, results have been as high as 80 percent.

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), in a study conducted in 2003, estimated a savings of $50-$65 per square foot for well-constructed green buildings in the U.S. (see table below) during that year. The numbers continue to improve as more eco-friendly options become available, and those kinds of figures have finally begun to attract those who thought eco-friendly construction was just a bunch of hogwash.

Type of Benefit ------------------------------ 20-year Net Present Value / sq. feet

Energy Savings ------------------------------$5.80
Emissions Savings ---------------------------$1.20
Water Savings --------------------------------$0.50
Operations and Maintenance Savings ---------$8.50
Productivity and Health Benefits --------------$36.90 - $55.30
Subtotal ---------------------------------------$52.90 - $71.30
Initial Investment in Green Building Practices --$3.00 - $5.00
Total 20-year Net Benefit ----------------------$50 - $65

Green Remodeling

While the remodeling of existing older buildings to make them more energy efficient is certainly a necessity, it doesn’t come without its hazards. Remember, older homes and commercial buildings probably contain all sorts of toxins, most notably asbestos. The miracle of the 20th century building industry, touted for its amazing heat- and fire-resistant properties, this hazardous mineral can be found in attics, wrapped around pipes and furnaces, and even in walls, floors, and ceilings, especially in buildings constructed prior to 1980.

Once the asbestos is addressed and then removed by a licensed professional and disposed of properly, green insulation options should be given serious consideration. The Department of Energy says heating and cooling accounts for 50-70 percent of the energy used in the average American home so finding sound and healthy insulation options are a necessity. Today, these options can save natural resources as well. Eco-friendly insulations are often made of recycled materials and include cellulose (old shredded newspapers treated for fire resistance), cotton fiber (usually made of recycled batted denim), and spray polyurethane foam.

Statistics show that the foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 35 percent annually, according to studies done by manufacturers. The other projects claim similar figures. And because these are recycled materials, less waste is going to the nation’s already crowded landfills.

Formal listing of Insulation Alternatives

Cotton fiber – This has become the favored insulation of many green builders or remodelers. Made of recycled batted material, such as denim, this fiber insulation is then treated with a chemical to make it fireproof. However, cotton fiber insulation is non-toxic and produces no off-gasses, making it a healthy choice.

Cellulose – Who would have believed that someday we’d be insulating our homes with recycled newsprint? Well, that’s exactly what cellulose is and it’s become one of the most popular new green insulating materials. Chemically treated to reduce mold and promote heat and fire resistance, figures show that cellulose can reduce air conditioning and heating bills up to about 20 percent each year.

Icynene – This water-based spray polyurethane foam keeps a home very tight, allowing little opportunity for things like mold to form. This healthy insulation also contains no polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), which are often found in spray foam insulation products. PBDEs can be quite toxic and are already banned in some states. Icynene also contains no hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which are believed to prompt global warming.