Not
all green construction is created equally,
which can make tackling a project a bit
overwhelming. "The most important
elements of
renovating green begin with you," said
Steve
Schappert, founder and CEO of Buyer's
Trust Real
Estate in Brookfield, Conn.
The first step is deciding if you
want to lower energy
costs and increase efficiency, create a
nontoxic
environment with natural building
materials or achieve
some combination of both. Mr. Schappert,
who is a
home broker and former contractor
working on several
green building projects in the greater
Litchfield
County, Conn., area, offers these tips
to guide you
through the process:
Do Your Homework
Make a wish list of everything
you want to achieve
with your home - don't hold back. then
asses your
home, your needs and your wants and
decide what is
realistic on your budget. Give your
house the
equivalent of a physical exam and
determine if
deteriorated furnaces, siding, windows,
shingles and
foundations will need improving or
replacement. "If
your home is more than 30 years old,
consider hiring a
building inspector for an objective
opinion," Mr.
Schappert said.
Visit Town Hall
Before you start any construction,
consult with the
various town boards, including
sanitation, wetlands and
zoning. "If you build too close to your
neighbor or your
well, you may be forced to tear it
down," Mr.
Schappert warned.
Get a sense of Scope
Figure out if you are willing to liaise
between
contractors or if you prefer to rely on
a project
manager. Interview several contractors
and request
proposals from each. "Your mental health
and the
financial success of your project will
depend on your
ability to work as a team with your
project manager or
contractors," Mr. Schappert Said
