Articles by Carol Cannon, BBEC, Certified Feng Shui Consultant

Checklist for Green Home Renovations

By Carol Cannon
Certified Building Biology and Feng Shui Consultant

Safety and healthy materials are top priorities when beginning a renovation project, and the energetics of a renovation also should be taken into account. With this in mind, following is a general checklist to guide your project.

	Hire a professional HEALTHY building inspector. This may not be the same person who did the building inspection for the purchase of your home.  A healthy building inspector will provide recommendations to benefit your health and the efficiency of your home, and will also note potential dangers.  S/he may recommend an air quality test, along with lead, radon, water testing if prior contamination is suspected, and an electromagnetic radiation test. Visit Bau-Biologie™ Find an Expert  to find a healthy building inspector in your area.
	Have a professional Feng Shui analysis done to understand the energies in your home. Have your family’s Four Pillars analysis prepared in conjunction with the Flying Star and western methods of Feng Shui. This will help create balance and increase the harmony in your life.
	With this information in hand, prioritize your projects based on eliminating danger first, building efficiency second, and considering cosmetics third.
	Interview ‘Green’ contractors and designers.  Be sure to ask for references, timing, and cost up front. You’ll find that timing and cost tend to increase over the renovation period.
	Research new products, looking for the healthiest available.  Consider where they are manufactured – local is ideal.  Certified sustainable products are another key – for instance, recycled/reclaimed products.
	Consider future savings in product/service decisions. Green renovation costs are coming closer to non-green costs, and a higher initial green price is often surpassed with savings in the future. Your energy bills may be reduced by using more efficient appliances, and you may be eligible for tax incentives. Verify this with your contractor, designer, or retail store.
	Recycle wherever possible. There are a growing number of ‘re-use’ stores throughout the country. They have unwanted items from others that may fit perfectly in your home.
	Consider the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the products you bring into your home. Many mainstream paints have low odor, but still include chemicals that can be harmful to you or your family. Check products at stores like Environmental Home Store (Philadelphia, PA) and Healthy Home (St. Petersburg, FL), or look online for a store in your area.
	Consider the health of your furniture. Organic, local, and certified forests are some of the key words to inquire about. Your bed is one of the most important pieces. Avoid bed frames, box springs, or furniture with metal in them – they can become magnetized and harmful to your health.  Natural is best. Two stores in the U.S.A. selling natural beds and furniture: Organic Mattress Store (Eastern PA) & Eco-terric (Bozeman, MT & San Francisco, CA).
	Consider efficient and healthy lighting. Compact fluorescent is not enough – insist on full spectrum compact fluorescent light bulbs, which provide efficiency along with the closest lighting to nature. This is particularly ideal in northern locations where S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is likely.
	When all is complete, check out your local health food store for organic cleaning materials.  Or, make them yourself!  Debra's (Dadd) List is a comprehensive list of links to thousands of products that clean healthfully.
	Finally, enjoy healthy, organic, locally grown food in your healthy environment. You will feel better knowing that you are ‘renovating’ your body by ridding chemicals and replacing them with healthy, non-toxic foods.

 

To your health!

© Carol Cannon Group 2007. All rights reserved.

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