GREEN

What is green building? It is a responsibility we have to our environment. At Dave's Home Improvement, we make green building a priority. According to Regreen Program.org, by using the strategies detailed in the REGREEN guidelines, homeowners and builders are able to make improvements to the home that yield significant money savings from energy savings to reduced water bills, which will last over the lifetime of the home.

MATERIALS

• We use Green Seal Certified Pittsburgh Paints Pure Performance®. Pure Performance® is a concept that few manufactures have managed to pull off. We, however, managed it beautifully. A paint that's environmentally gentle yet still offers superior performance. Pure Performance®; with zero VOC, very low odor, and the coveted Green Seal® Class A Certification, its exceptional quality transforms any interior space.
• In addition to using reclaimed lumber when desirable, we are committed to using FSC certified lumber. This is lumber that is forested in a sustainable fashion.

• Lighting - Dave's Home Improvements designs lighting with a use of natural light and an appropriate mix of ambient and task lighting.
• Plumbing - Dave's Home Improvements uses the most efficient high quality low-flow fixtures for the sink, toilet, and shower.
• Heating/cooling - According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling amounts to 46% of all energy consumed by our homes. The comfort and health benefits of radiant heating make it an attractive and affordable option. The energy efficiency also makes this one of the greenest ways to heat your home. The estimated cost savings associated with the use of radiant floor heating range from 10 - 40% on utility bills. Due to the fact that radiant heat is distributed evenly, homeowners can set the thermostat 2 - 4 degrees less than in a forced air heating system, leading to a reduction in energy costs.
• Appliances - Dave's Home Improvements selects Energy Star-rated appliances. Along with lower operating energy use, most Energy Star appliances will go into a power-saving sleep mode, and phantom loads when equipment is turned off are very low.

DISPOSAL

• Reusing - We take salvageable fixtures from demolition to Construction Junction, where they are sold for a reduced cost and therefore kept out of landfills.
• Environmental Disposal - Dave's Home Improvements strives to use "deconstruction" over "demolition". This is a method, as recommended by Regreen Program.org, by which it can preserve for reuse everything from floor joists to the kitchen sink, from the front door to the light fixtures. Every brick, stick of lumber, or salvaged architectural detail removed from the waste stream saves valuable landfill space, conserves production energy, and can potentially add beauty and historical value to the renovation of the home.