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The Low Down on Dual Flush Toilets

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We blogged recently about design features suggested for an aging in place bathroom. Such features make it easier for anyone in the home to maneuver comfortably and safely despite their age, height or physical condition.

Features that make for a green, eco-friendly or sustainable bathroom are a bit different, though. If going green with your remodel or renovation is a priority, you’ll want to pay special attention to elements that will help you to save water, energy and money. One of the easiest ways to accomplish all three in the bathroom is with a dual flush toilet.

dual flush toilets Atlanta

So what exactly is a dual flush toilet? Is it something that you should consider for your bathroom remodel?

A dual flush toilet gives the user two flushing options with the ultimate goal of conserving water.  We live in a country with aging water infrastructures, which makes this type of toilet ideal as it uses less water than traditional commodes that most homes currently have.  In fact, older toilets use anywhere from 3.5 to about 7 gallons per flush (GPF). Dual-flush toilets can save upwards of 15,000 gallons of water per year, because they have two buttons – one for a light flush at 0.9 Gallons and the other for a heavy flush at 1.6 gallons.

Some counties in Metro Atlanta are already mandating the use of low flow toilets and will not even allow you to sell your home without first making this change. Therefore, if you plan to remodel your bathroom in the near future, a dual flush toilet can offer a modern upgrade while meeting necessary environmental requirements. Depending on which county you live in, you may even qualify for a rebate by opting for a low flow or dual flush toilet.

At Renewal Design Build, we have incorporated dual flush toilets in several of our Atlanta bathroom remodeling projects. We welcome you to view our extensive portfolio of bathroom renovations to see how a dual flush toilet can complement the overall design.

For more information about energy efficient improvements for your home, please contact us at 404-378-6962.

What's So Great About LED Lighting?

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The trend of going green with home design, particularly with the use of energy-efficient materials, has exploded in recent years. And if you’ve heard of LED lighting, then you probably already know that it’s one of the easiest ways to decrease your carbon footprint at home.

What is LED lighting anyway? And what makes it so “green”?

LED lighting
LED stands for light-emitting diode. Light is produced as electrons that move through a semiconductor material to illuminate a diode. These diodes are small and can be integrated into small areas, allowing for a greater variety of lighting options such as under kitchen cabinets or in the shower.

LED lighting differs from the traditional incandescent lighting that you’re probably very familiar with. How so?

  • Appearance: LED light is much more natural looking and whiter than the yellowish light given off by incandescent bulbs, especially when those bulbs begin to age. The light from LEDs shine where it is pointed, unlike incandescent bulbs that shine in all directions. Smaller LEDs allows homeowners more flexibility, particularly because homes can now have extra lighting in places that may not have been as feasible with traditional bulbs.
  • Efficiency: Incandescent light bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat. Have you ever touched a hot light bulb? Ouch! In contrast, LEDs should be cool to the touch since little heat is released. And this also makes them safer than standard bulbs. LEDs require less electricity which amounts to about $5 per year for each bulb that is replaced with an LED fixture. That could amount to huge savings for the average household.
  • Life: The average lifespan of a regular bulb is anywhere from 750 to 2,000 hours. For Energy Star rated LEDs, you should between 25,000 and 50,000 hours of life. What a difference a bulb makes!

Is the lighting in your Atlanta home up to par? If not, Renewal Design-Build can come up with some energy-saving custom solutions for you… all you have to do is contact us!

Is Geothermal Heating and Cooling Right for Your Atlanta Home?

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If you’ve made the decision to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle in 2013, one of the first places to start with this transition is your home.  While there are a number of possible green home renovations in Atlanta to consider, perhaps one of the more unique solutions is a geothermal heating and cooling system.

 

geothermal heating Atlanta

One of our major home renovation projects featuring geothermal heating and cooling.

Otherwise known as earth-coupled technology, the concept of geothermal heating and cooling utilizes in-ground pipes and a heat exchanger to accentuate the effects of the temperature gradient, therefore providing a superior and environmentally friendly heating and cooling solution for your home.  While this type of system can be quite an investment on the front end, it can offer a significant cost savings long-term if you plan on staying in your home for the next 20+ years.

There are several reasons why a geothermal heating and cooling system could be a viable option for your Atlanta home:

  • The government is currently offering a 30% tax credit for the cost of a newly installed geothermal system.  There is no cap for this tax credit, which will expire at the end of 2016.
  • A geothermal heating and cooling system will save a household approximately $1,600 during the first year that the system installed since there will be no need to pay for conventional heating and cooling.  Going forward, the average household can expect to save $500 a year from this type of system.
  • The average geothermal heating and cooling system can easily offer 20 years of reliable performance, therefore saving homeowners the unnecessary annual maintenance costs of $500 that would be associated with a conventional HVAC system.

Take a look at one of our award-winning projects in which we incorporated a geothermal heating and cooling system.

Renewal Design Build has completed a number of green home renovations in Atlanta and can offer several solutions to make your home more energy efficient.  For more information, please contact us at 404-378-6962.

 

Renewal on Cover of Professional Remodeler Magazine

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Renewal is proud to be featured on the March cover of Professional Remodeler magazine, one of the industry’s top publications.

Renewal Design-Build’s Peter Michelson, CEO, and David Michelson, president, are featured alongside Joe Thomas, general manager of Renewal System Solutions.

The article discusses the symbiotic relationship between the full-service design-build firm and its sister home performance company. Renewal System Solutions performs home performance assessments and makes energy efficiency improvements as part of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.

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