DeAnna Radaj - In this challenging housing market, you’ve decided not to sell. Your 2010 resolution is to stay in your current place and make it more comfortable . . . and even better for when the housing market turns around!  How can you keep the environment in mind when doing some easy remodeling, and GO GREEN while making sure that someday you will also recoup any investment? Here are some tips shared with us from David West of Meadowview Construction in Georgetown, MA.

• Making your home energy efficient will always recoup any investment by lowering your energy bills and adding value to the home’s worth. This includes windows, appliances, and lighting (even changing the bulbs to energy-saving models will help).
• If you're adding insulation because it doesn’t currently exist or you want to increase energy efficiency and sound-proofing, look for high-efficiency insulation products like those made from cellulose and/or spray foam. There is even insulation made from recycled blue jeans!
• Reuse as many items as possible when you remodel. You’d be surprised what some sanding, stain, paint, and some new hardware can do to spruce up what you already have.

• Check out a Habitat for Humanity ReStore resale store, architectural reclaimation store, or any local salvage/consignment store for remodeling materials. I like Architectural Antiques in Minneapolis, MN for their ever-changing assortment of items.

• How about using GREEN products as often as possible when you remodel? Look for materials that are VOC-free. Also look for recycled glass and natural fibers.
• Please recycle all waste from your remodeling project. You can donate old cabinetry, vanities, or other household items to Habitat for Humanity, unused or old furniture and accessories to a consignment store . . . heck, you can even cart sawdust to a dairy or other kind of farm to use as bedding for the animals! [Design2Share note: Our resident designer Irwin Weiner remodeled his home several years ago and he and his contractor old sidewalk chunks and stones from demolished chimneys to build up a raised lawn area around a swimming pool. Fill was dumped on top of the carefully positioned mound of rubble and grass was sewn over the fill. It now looks lush and no one would know that this grassy deck was built on top of salvage.]
• Radiant heat from a high-efficiency boiler will not only keep you warm but also help lower your heating costs.

• A water filtration system is a must nowadays; there are many options, from water filtration pitchers to units that attach to your faucet or right to your plumbing fixtures.
• Low flow or dual flow toilets and showerheads from your local plumbing supplier will help lower your household's water usage. TOTO and Kohler have a great selection of eco-friendly supplies.
• When choosing lumber for your project, look for wood certified from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or reclaimed wood
• Finally, include lots of ventilation in your remodeling project and make use of whatever natural light you can. Providing natural circulation and letting the sunshine in will reduce your heating, cooling, and lighting costs.

DeAnna Radaj, owner of Bante Design LLC and its production division Eden Place Productions, is a designer who specializes in Integrative Lifestyle Design (the fusion of Eastern and Western interior design philosophies incorporating feng shui and healthy home principles). Ms. Radaj is an author/columnist, design consultant, and national speaker on topics like Healthy Home Design, Feng Shui, Design Tips & Trends, and Clutter (Why We Have It and How to Get Rid of It!). Ms. Radaj is the former editor of the WI ASID newsletter which featured her column, "The Business of Design," and she has been featured in print, radio, and TV. She has authored Designing the Life of Your Dreams from the Outside In and Feng Shui for Teens, and is a contributor to Design2Share, casaGURU, and the Diva Toolbox.