ConstructionDeal.com Update

Do you know the best part about the whole "green" movement? Besides the most important benefits of preserving resources and helping the environment? It's that going green can save you money.

Many things that are "good for us" are usually more expensive or more of a hassle. But with modern leaps in technology and production, a lot of the green products we use in our homes cost the same or even less. And they save us money. Through lowered energy bills, tax credits, rebates, and cheaper (usually recycled) materials... we're keeping more money in the bank and helping the planet.

The keywords that pop up a lot in the green vernacular are reuse, renew, and recycle. This can apply to your home renovations as well.

Salvage is what can make a difference. Whenever you are getting rid of products and materials around your home, or if you're planning to remodel and bring in new materials and furniture, consider salvage.

For example, when re-doing your kitchen, you could have a demolition service come out and tear everything down and haul it off to the landfill. The chemicals in the cabinets and flooring will seep into the ground, the trash piles will grow, and the environment will be harmed.

Another (greener!) option would be to contact a salvage service. Salvage companies could reuse the cabinets, counters, flooring, and appliances in other applications. Or the materials could be recycled into new and different products, reducing the need to harvest new materials.

And the best part? You might even get cash for the products you turn in. You could get a tax credit for the "donation". It's also possible to get a store credit with the salvage yard to purchase recycled materials and products for your new kitchen!

Whenever new products for the home are made, it sucks resources out of the planet and ruins the environment we need to survive. Consider your kitchen cabinets. Wood needs to be cut down, using heavy machinery that consumes gas and oil. The wood needs to be transports long distances using even more resources. Production of cabinets requires more energy as well as harmful chemicals. They also need to be shipped to retail stores or to your home.

So, when you buy those new cabinets, you're consuming a lot more than just new cabinets...

Consider a salvage yard, recycling center, or green manufacturer for your next home remodeling project. It could help save the planet and it could even save you some money. And that's what we all should be doing.

Also, you can talk to green contractors. There are companies that specialize in Green Renovation and in Green Building practices.

If you need to find a salvage expert in your neighborhood, consider ConstructionDeal.com. We match salvage pros with homeowners every day. And we can help you - for free. Simply tell us about your project and you'll receive calls directly from salvage and recycling services.

It's fast, free, and easy. And it helps out the planet we all live on.

Labels: Green Builders, Green Demolition, Green Remodeling, Green Salvage

How would you like to have your next home delivered to your new address? No, I'm not talking about having a double-wide mobile home shipped to the site. I'm talking about the latest in affordable, well designed, and factory built prefab modular homes. And there is a difference.

The great thing about these prefab modulars? They are not bare-bones shacks that have been nailed together - they are luxurious, modern, and "green" houses that are manufactured in the factories and shipped to a lot for assembly. And they're gaining popularity away from the colder climates where building seasons are short - they're big across the country.

Much lip-service in the media has been given to "green building" and "sustainability," with our rising energy costs providing the impetus. But most new home builders do not consider themselves up to speed with the whole green building movement. But all the doom-and-gloom reports, documentaries, TV shows, and more have all made us painfully aware that there is a problem -- and that we're the cause of it.

The great thing about these modular homes is that designers are making these modular homes with materials and systems that are energy-efficient, non-toxic, and made with recycled products. The bonus is that these homes can be sleek, modern, and filled with all the same luxury appliances and surfaces as a site-built home. But you can save time and money: modular homes can be completed in less than half the time of a site-built home, for about 25% less. Many modular builders are LEED certified, meaning the homes are high quality, energy-efficient, and very sustainable.

And the prefab modular home wave is not just for a single-family urban residences. People are installing these homes in the suburbs and in rural areas. Multi-family apartment and condo modular communities are being set up everywhere. And there are commercial applications that are being utilized to same time, money, and resources. While they have standard floorplans, most manufactures also do custom design work, as well.

How are they "green"? The homes usually use insulated panels and glass, recycled wood and steel, and are designed to maximize natural light to cut down on energy costs. Air flow is also part of the design to make sure the air conditioner is not always used. Solar panels options are almost always available. Many include state-of-the-art energy efficient appliances. And think about this - you'll even be cutting down on fossil fuel emissions! You won't have teams of subcontractors coming to your house everyday for all the installation work - the house is practically delivered complete!

So, if you're building a new house on your lot... consider a prefab modular. Consider how much you'll save in both time and money. And... consider the Earth.

For more information, check out: Michelle Kaufmann Designs, a group of architects and designers focused on well-designed buildings that are also sustainable, energy-efficient, and luxurious. To find a Modular or Green Home Builder, in your area, you can post your request on our network.

Labels: Gree Construction, Green Builders, Modular Homes