What made me think about this?  Well, that would be the sobering thought of all the trees that would likely be in people’s homes by the end of the night, the water damage or mold that is brought out by the storm, roofing and siding that may not be there in the morning, etc.

But what makes that Green?  Driving down the streets in any community right now in Houston and surrounding areas there are heaps of Carpeting, Sheetrock, Tree Debris, Roof Shingles, you name it.  All of that ends up in the landfill.  It fills up our limited space to ‘dump’ and then promotes the off gassing methane as most dumps do.

One of the most important parts of Green Building is using products that last a long time with low maintenance required to help prevent this from happening and protect the homeowner and your investment.

So this brings up the idea that right now is the PERFECT time to make GREEN upgrades to your home.  Item by Item I will post about some of these, but for now here are some things that will help your home stand up to Hurricanes in the future.

• If you are rebuilding completely in the Coastal Areas, consider using Insulated Concrete Forms.  Not only do they sustain over 200 mph winds, they are energy efficient like you wouldn’t believe.  The rumor of a 2/3 discount on Wind Coverage because of it is a bonus too.
• Windows- Double Pane, Low E- we are getting used to hearing those terms.  For a little more you can upgrade to a stronger window that will not only help with winds, but baseballs if you have kids.
• Weather Stripping around doors and windows- This helps your home to be energy efficient as well by keeping air from going in and out but it also helps to keep out water when the yard is not draining well.
• Products that do not promote mold- Consider using products in your home that don’t soak up water.  Maybe an alternative to sheetrock?
• Roofing-  Composition Shingles are common but there are other options that not only have an insulated value but stand up to mother nature, not to mention that they last longer in this hot and humid climate.
• Carpet- Get rid of it.  Use a flooring that promotes healthier indoor air quality and is easier to get water off/out of.  Don’t forget to buy local.
• Permeable areas outdoors-  Decking and Concrete can look nice outside, but it prevents water from draining well.  Try some permeable pavement or some of those cool new pavers that not only look neat but help get the water in the ground quicker.
• How about Solar?  Being without power for 8 days has seriously made me consider it.
• Fencing-  I have no idea.  But if anyone has another option, please share. 

As mentioned, I will be posting about all of these and what other GREEN options there are.  If you need to know now, shoot me an email steph@turninghoustongreen.com and I will try to help you out and lead you in the right direction.

If I left anything out and you have an idea of something that can help out, let us know.  If you are doing extensive remodeling or rebuilding you may also want to consider the ASID and USGBC ReGreen Guidelines.  Information on that is coming soon also.

Now that things are somewhat starting to get back to normal in the Houston area I wanted to put out a couple of helpful resources.  Insurance adjusters are cutting checks, homeowners are trying to get their homes back to normal as quick as possible but be careful of who you choose to get it all done!  You may need the repairs done quickly, but be careful none the less.

Here are a few suggestions:

• If you hire someone to do repairs to your home, make sure that you have a contract that specifically states the work that is expected to be done.  Don’t leave any room for misunderstandings.
• Personally, I question the contractor when they ask for all money BEFORE starting the work.  It gives them the opportunity to take it and run, quickly!
• Take time to research the contractor.  Ask for references.
• Check out the Texas Residential Construction Commission Website.  -TRCC- They have great information on Contractors
• Try the Greater Houston Builders Association website also.  -GHBA- For information on local Houston Contractors and other repair people.
• If you are having extensive work done, you may want to make sure that the contractor puts the home back in ‘building code’ condition.  Older homes are not to code, but for the sake of selling later and safety it should be put back to current code if possible.
• Ask a lot of questions if you need to.  Make sure you understand the work that is being done and what to expect afterwards.  Again, make sure you are all on the same page.
• Try to find contractors that are insured with their work, just in case.

Although these are just a few tips, try to take as much in to consideration as possible when getting your home repaired.

If you have a couple of questions that you would like to ask that may help you, feel free to use the ‘Ask the Expert’ tab at the top of the page.  Myself or one of the other experts around town will do our best to help answer your question.