Prestige Magazine CoverServing the greater Tampa Bay area.  Please visit www.CharterBayHomes.com after reading our blog.

Starting with the upcoming issue, we will be writing a regular “Green Living” column in Prestige Magazine.  In the column we will be focusing on our area of expertise – Green Home Remodeling and Green Home Building.

Here’s a peek at our first column…

GO GREEN!

Are you considering remodeling your home?  Why not go “Green” in the process? There is a massive shift towards Green Living in our country which has created a whole new reason to consider remodeling your home. A remodeling project that incorporates green features can benefit your wallet, your family’s health, and the environment.  Here are some of the reasons to consider going Green:

Energy Costs (Efficiency) – This is the hallmark of Green Living. With utility costs perpetually increasing there are numerous savings that can be made through the use of energy efficient features.  Tankless or solar hot water heaters, low flow fixtures, solar panels for electricity, advanced insulation techniques and products, energy efficient windows, and new Energy Star appliances can all significantly reduce your monthly utility expenses.
Quality of Life – We are learning that poor Indoor Air Quality in our homes can lead to serious health problems.  Unlike in the recent past, today we’re able to choose from a variety of products including paint, carpet, and cabinetry, that emit low, or no, VOCs and toxins into our homes.  Volatile Organic Compounds are emitted from the thousands of products we encounter in our lives and are known to cause a number of health problems including asthma, damage to the liver and nervous system, eye and throat irritation, headaches, and even cancer.  Incorporating low VOC emitting products into your home can reduce the potential health risks to you and your family.

Resale Value – Another major benefit of a green remodeling project is the added value it brings to your home.  It won’t be long until every new home constructed contains standard green features.  With that in mind, adding green features to your existing home during your remodeling project will add to its value and make it more marketable when the time comes to sell.

Sustainability – In its broadest sense, “sustainability” means we manage the earth’s resources so future generations have the same access to them as we do today.  On a more personal level, it means choosing products in our lives that are renewable, recyclable/recycled, reusable, and durable.  We now have access to many sustainable choices including recycled-content building materials, countertops, flooring, insulation, as well as many other choices.  In addition, when you consider that it takes more than 100 trees to construct a new 2000 sq. ft. home, you quickly see that remodeling your existing home is a very sustainable way of thinking.

Economic Incentives – Finally, there are many incentives available to homeowners for green remodeling projects.  These incentives can add up to significant savings.  For example, the brand new “Cash For Caulkers” Program will pay back homeowners up to $12,000 for green home improvements!  Visit www.CharterBayHomes.com/Cash.html for  more information on this new program.

With so many reasons to go green, what shade do you want to be?

Eric Stockland is CEO of Charter Bay Home Builders, a full-service remodeling and custom home building company dedicated to the simple idea that “If you’re not happy, we’re not done”.  Visit www.CharterBayHomes.com, or call 813-357-9030, to learn more about how Charter Bay can help turn the things you don’t like about your home into the things you love!      Lic# CBC1257221