Michael Anschel

Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build

Michael Anschel is the owner and principal of Otogawa–Anschel Design–Build, LLC, a national recognized award winning design-build firm that focuses on older residential homes and is dedicated to green building. He is currently spearheading the Ad Hoc Green Remodeling Group, working with CSBR and the Green Institute to develop green remodeling standards & programs for the state. He is a frequent contributor to numerous publications including Remodeling, Up Scale Remodeler, and the Journal of Light Construction.

A Minneapolis native, he lived, studied, and worked in China and Japan, and returned to the US to study metal and ceramic sculpture. His spare time is spent outdoors climbing small mountains, cooking, and reading with his wife. For more information, visit www.otogawa-anschel.com.

You may already be familiar with the concept of "green living", the current trend towards a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle. Perhaps you have been thinking about ways that you can green your life. Most of us have seen an increase in our energy costs that have brought greater attention towards green building and remodeling as it incorporates many energy saving techniques and technologies. It is easy to get caught up in cool, earth friendly materials, but green remodeling is really about the systems that make up our homes. Think of it this way, you can decorate your car with paint and chrome, but if you don't change the oil, don't install the right parts the car will lose its value and perform poorly. The same is true with our homes. Green represents the very best in building practices while improving our impact on our environment with the systems and materials we employ.

Our carbon footprint is very important and finding ways to reduce its size and impact is a driving force behind today's green remodeling movement. In an effort to reduce our energy consumption by any meaningful measure, we have to look beyond the energy efficiency rating of our appliances or the insulation in the walls, and look at the building process in its entirety. It's important to consider the energy consumed/required in the following areas:

• to manufacture and transport our building materials
• to dispose of our construction waste
• to clean and maintain our drinking water
• to keep our local environment clean

We sometimes forget that we pay for all of this energy eventually through subsidization, fees, and taxes. By building and remodeling green we actually lower our overall costs dramatically by reducing the costs associated with cleaning up after ourselves.

So What is Green Remodeling?

Let's start by making sure that we have a clear definition of green remodeling.

Five Key Concepts of Green Remodeling

1. Energy Efficiency
2. Indoor Air Quality
3. Resource Efficiency Use & Durability
4. Site Management & Use
5. Water Conservation

Eight Components of the Traditional Building Process

1. Education (homeowners, contractors, subcontractors, architects, selling agents)
2. Finishes & Trim (flooring & floor coverings, paint, coatings, sealants, millwork, cabinets, counter tops, adhesives, wall coverings, siding, drywall, tile, etc.)
3. High Performance Building Envelope & Systems (insulation, roofing, foundation, sheathing, structural materials & methods, energy source & storage systems, etc.)
4. Innovation (cutting edge systems approaches & products)
5. Mechanicals (light fixtures, lighting plan, plumbing fixtures & materials, electrical, appliances, water systems, fans, HVAC, etc.)
6. Natural Light & Ventilation (skylights, windows, light tubes, placement & use, etc.)
7. Site Management & Outdoor Projects (landscaping materials, site protection, decking, paving systems, storm water capture & management systems, structure orientation, etc.)
8. Waste Management (construction & demolition waste reduction, reuse, recycling, etc.)

Remodeling, designing, and building green require that you think about all the possible ways that every one of the construction components can effect each of the five concepts. The number of methods, materials and systems can quickly become overwhelming. Additionally, a product that may appear to be green from one angle violates green from another. Finding the balance among these five key concepts in your project is what is important. If you only address energy efficiency at the expense of water, durability, and indoor air quality, your project is not green.

A major component to this process is testing the home. Independent (third party) testing is the best way to ensure that all of the components have been installed properly and that your home is performing well. These tests include; blower door, infrared scans, duct blasting, flue–samples, and air tests. Testing for health related concerns like radon, lead and asbestos is important for the health of you and your family.

So What Can You As a Homeowner Do?

Where do you start? How can you determine what materials or methods are green? Who can help you through this process?

The new MN Green Remodeling Guidelines, available through NARI, are a great place to start. Selecting a NARI professional who has received the most up–to–date training on how to use the guidelines will ensure that the right decisions are made for your project.

Green is the holistic approach to building that turns our attention away from the shiny coverings and brings our focus back on craftsmanship your health, and the long–term impact of our actions.

Perhaps the best thing about remodeling green is that it is so easy. It is beneficial to both the home and its occupants. Remodeling green is remodeling to make your home more durable, efficient, sustainable, healthier, and less expensive to operate.