Too Costly to Go Green?

Sustainability is not a fad, but it does seem to be driven by market conditions.  While our customers don't question the increased energy codes (PDF), they tend to seek the best overall return on investment.

My rudimentary analysis concludes today's home renovation customer tends to be more interested in improving lifestyle than saving the planet. 

Agree?  Disagree?

Off the Grid

With energy costs on the rise and fear of economic collapse, there's a real attraction to self-sufficiency.  Solar, wind, geo-thermal and use of alternative fuels have become more familiar in the last several years.  As these technologies start proving their worth over time, they will likely be adopted by the mainstream consumer. 

Corporate R&D departments are tapping into builders for information.  At the International Builders Show in 2009, Michael Tenhulzen was asked to be a member of a research study on residential solar energy.  Results were recently released for a product that will soon be competing with traditional solar arrays.

Selling energy back to the utilities is a more intriguing prospect than ever with rising energy costs and regulation.  Unfortunately, the mainstream market won't adopt the solar, wind and other energy conversion technologies until the return on investment becomes more favorable.  Currently, a solar array and battery system that can support the basic needs of a home overnight takes roughly 15 years to "pay for itself".  And then there's the argument about solar efficiency of Seattle's weather at the 48th parallel.  Wind farms along the Columbia Gorge and other wind prone locations are effective, but their residential counterparts are relatively costly compared to potential output.  When considering alternative energy sources, the less moving parts, the better.

There are a multitude of resources out there for becoming less reliant on "the system".  A good place to start is off-grid-living.com.  Of course, energy is only one component of becoming more self-reliant.  Water resources are threatened by drought, earthquakes and bio-chemical terrorism.  Try shutting off the water to your house for a day.  How would your family function?  It's worth investigating the possibility of drawing water out of the earth's natural filtration system.  Well water resources are more plentiful than we think.  A good well with a solar-powered pump may be the best investment in supporting life on your property.

In recent years, it seems a lot more people are interested in growing and raising their own food sources to reduce intake of potentially harmful chemicals and reduce cost of living expenses.  If your neighborhood can tolerate it, having some chickens and goats can support a healthy diet and provide natural fertilizer for the garden.  Read up on what soil types support what types of foods.  Then plan your yields according to your needs.  Many varieties of fruits and vegetables can be planted a month apart so they mature as they are needed.  Over the winter, dried, frozen and canned foods are depleted for re-stocking during the growing months.

Thinking about getting off the grid is a little like going back in time.  How did people survive before indoor plumbing?  Before electricity?  By adjusting your lifestyle to adopt some of the "off the grid" concepts, you'll find yourself less threatened by rising energy costs, food prices and the inevitable natural disaster.

Window Replacement Story

A close friend of mine decided it was time to replace windows in his home.  He contacted 3 window companies and a big box store for comparative analysis.  After receiving all 4 quotes, he called me over for advice.

Fenestration is a major component of the building envelope.  Best overall performance of the new windows is a consideration for energy costs and indoor air quality.  Although the window products were all vinyl, there were subtle differences that made big differences in which to choose.  To make the best decision possible, we made a list of pros and cons for each.  Since overall performance was not important, the list consisted of: manufacturer, installation method, installed cost, online customer reviews and warranty.

1.  Manufacturer.  There are an untold number of vinyl window manufacturers in the U.S.  Of those that have a northwest presence, there are only 3 brands that are commonly used by residential builders.  Because only one of the proposals included a top manufacturer, it received the best mark.

2. Installation method.  Most window replacement companies will cut out the existing windows and install new with no flange.  That is to say, the flange is cut off and the windows are fastened into the sides of the window opening instead of to the outer wall.  The flange is designed to be sealed to the sheathing before the siding system is applied.  Without it, a bead of caulk is all that prevents the opening from leaking.  Since method was not specifically stated, each of the 4 companies had to be queried.  Proper flashing at the top of the window and use of self-adhesive rubberized ice & water shield on the flange is best to prevent problems with air and water leaks.

3. Installed cost.  3 of the proposals included installed cost and 1 was for materials only.  This is important to know, because of the labor variable.  When a new window is specified to be installed with the flange intact, it requires the installer remove the adjacent siding and cut back the interior liner to accommodate the window thickness (vinyl windows are thicker than aluminum, but not typically as much as wood).  If it takes 1 hour to install a window without flange, it can take up to 8 hours to set the same window with a flange intact.  In many cases where horizontal siding covers an aluminum flange, the siding can be cut back in place to accommodate a picture-frame flat trim, which changes the look of the house.

4. Online customer reviews.  The internet has become a powerful tool for consumers who share their experiences with service providers and the products they choose to represent.  Although reviews were rather scattered, we were able to roughly determine that the lowest cost also had the highest percentage of complaints.  Interestingly, the highest cost had the best reviews.  My friend understands the value of service and ranked the pros and cons accordingly.

5. Warranty.  It turns out a “lifetime” warranty is not always for the life of the home.  Fine print revealed that some of the warranties do not cover installation method nor transferability to a new owner.  Sometimes the salesperson has not read the warranty of the product they sell.

This exercise proved there was really only 1 company from the field of 4 that was best suited for my friend’s home.  In the final analysis, the selection could have been made before wasting his time to meet all 4 estimators.  Because it was also the most expensive, he chose to save up for this investment and promised the company he would be calling them in the spring.

Michael Tenhulzen, CGR, CAPS is President of Tenhulzen Remodeling in Redmond (425) 885-9871 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (425) 885-9871      end_of_the_skype_highlighting www.tenhulzen.com.