Save by the Gallon with a Bathroom Remodel

JonathanBlackwell on November 19th, 2008

Everyone in Georgia knows that water consumption has become a big issue. One look at my wilted lawn last summer and you know that we don’t enough to go around. However, we can change that next time we tackle a renovation project with a few simple changes to the biggest water guzzler of them all, the bathroom.

From toilets to tubs, we use around 60% or our household water supply in the bathroom. Don’t fret though there a few simple changes we can tackle that can dramatically reduce that consumption

Inefficient Toilets — Toilets guzzle nearly 27% of your household water supply every year. Older homes often have toilets that average nearly 3.5 GALLONS PER FLUSH! If you haven’t updated that old toilet I suggest you get hopping as newer low flow toilets consume less than a third of that outdated guzzler you have now. In fact, if you toilet is using more than 1.6 GPF then it is time to make a change.

Wasteful Showers — Although not as bad as toilets, showers can also be huge water wasters. Some fancier systems with multiple heads can actually burn through 80 gallons per minute. Federal guidelines for a single head shower require 2.5 gallons per minute or less, but you can take it even further and get one of Delta’s new H20 Kinetics head that only use 1.6 GPM.

Water Heaters — American households waster an average of 6.35 gallons of water per day waiting around for the water to heat up. Wait no more however and get yourself a tankless on demand water heater to have instantly hot water. Check for your individual state, but you might just get a tax credit for purchasing one.

Faucets — Finally, while you are making all the other water saving changes you might just want to go ahead and increase efficiency at the faucet as well. Most faucets run about 2.2 GPM or less, but newer models may just use a paltry 1.5 GPM.

Ready to stop wasting all that water? If you are short on cash for those renovations contact us for an FHA 203K Green Renovation Loan and we can take care of that bathroom, along with those old energy wasting windows and appliances while we are at it!

Jonathan Blackwell

404-551-3845

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How Green Renovation Can Help Solve the Foreclosure Crisis

JonathanBlackwell on October 30th, 2008

So much of today’s existing housing stock is in the form of foreclosures. Many of them aren’t livable and have been vacant for some time. What if we could get a movement going to help take these properties and provide affordable green renovations for buyers in need through FHA 203K renovation loans? Not only are you fulfilling the mission of FHA 203K, to restore and preserve America’s existing housing stock, but your are also incorporating money and energy saving green improvements into those homes.

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You Don’t Have to Move Out to Move Up!

JonathanBlackwell on October 8th, 2008

When most homeowners want more space or a nicer place they call Real Estate Agent and start their search for a new home. It doesn’t have to be that way though, you don’t have to move out to move up with a FHA 203K or Fannie Mae Homestyle Renovation Loan!

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Are You Doing a Green Renovation?

JonathanBlackwell on September 23rd, 2008

If so contact me and I will feature you on this blog! We can track your progress, costs, trials and tribulations while hopefully inspiring some other homeowners / homebuyers to renovate GREEN.
Jonathan Blackwell
404-551-3845

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Focus on Green Building Materials — Reclaimed Exotic Hardwood

JonathanBlackwell on September 11th, 2008

TerraMai floors are a mixture of numerous tropical hardwood species, reclaimed from antique railroad ties and other salvage sources in Southeast Asia. Our floors are used in residential, municipal and commercial applications where environmentally responsible, beautiful, stable and durable solid wood is desired.

TerraMai flooring can easily be used in kitchens and bathrooms, providing it is [...]

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Want to Go Green at Home? Don’t Build New, RENOVATE!

JonathanBlackwell on September 8th, 2008

Think about it. Even if you make your new construction project as green as possible, you are still using new materials instead of reusing and recycling old ones. Not to mention with the current real estate market, the availability of new construction financing in comparison to the affordability of renovation financing and the fact that [...]

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Creative Uses for the $7500 Tax Credit

JonathanBlackwell on September 4th, 2008

Creative Uses For the $7500 Tax Credit
By James Duffy
The buzz about the Housing Stimulus Bill that President Bush signed into law last month is the $7500 tax credit that First time homebuyers receive now through July, 2009. The bill, H.R 3221 bill was signed into law in July. There was a lot of content [...]

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Focus on Green Building Materials — Terrazzo

Jonathan Blackwell on September 4th, 2008

Terrazzo, used by the ancient Romans, is one of the oldest building materials on earth. It’s use was one part functionality and one part beauty. However, it has fallen back in favor recently due to the demand to reuse and recycle materials that once might have been discarded

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Focus on Green Building Materials — Bamboo

JonathanBlackwell on August 21st, 2008

Bamboo flooring has become hugely popular in recent years for a couple of reasons. First, it is good looking flooring, but second it is also an easily renewable resource that takes less than 5 years to grow to maturity. When you compare that to the 50-100 years that traditional hardwoods take to reach maturity you can see why bamboo has potential.

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Saving Money With Green Renovations

JonathanBlackwell on August 12th, 2008

Spurred by corporations and consumers with an eye on the bottom line, the green building industry grew from $7 billion in 2005 to nearly $12 billion last year. The reason for the growth is economics, building green saves money.

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