It's Easy 
"Green Fusion is proud to be a Certified Green Business—clients recognize the logo as a sign that Green Fusion walks our talk. Being a part of the Green Business program gives us the credibility our clients are looking for. Green Fusion is all about making smarter choices in our living environments. The Green Business program's Mission to help businesses become healthier and more sustainable is in lock step with our mission. Being a Certified Green Business helps businesses prosper not just from the recognition, but from the healthier environments this creates and the knowledge that we are part of the solution."

—Greg Snowden, Owner and Founder of Green Fusion Design Center in San Anselmo

A team from Canyon Construction in Moraga installs solar panels on a roof.

How can remodelers "green" their businesses? First bring their operations into compliance with all environmental regulations, then adopt pollution prevention and resource conservation practices. The program checklists offer a variety of options for meeting program standards. Here are some examples of what you can do.

Top Ten Green Remodeler Practices

  1. Obtain industry specific "Green" credentials, which demonstrate your training in environmentally preferable building and remodeling practices. Excellent references for such practices are the Home Remodeling Green Building Guidelines and New Home Construction Green Building Guidelines. You can find these publications at www.builditgreen.org.

    Green Business certification requires licensed contractors and architects to have one of these credentials:
    • Certified Green Building Professional or Green Points Rater, Build It Green, www.builditgreen.org
    • Green Building Professional Certificate Program, Sonoma State University, www.sonoma.edu/ensp/etc
    • LEED Accredited Professional, U.S. Green Building Council, www.leedbuilding.org
    • HERS (Home Energy Rating Services) Certification from either California Building Contractors Association (CBPCA), www.cbpca.org; CalCERTS, www.calcerts.com; or California Home Energy Efficiency Rating Services (CHEERS), www.cheers.org

  1. Incorporate wording into your company's mission statement, materials and project estimates that conveys your company's commitment to being green.

  2. Offer clients "green" building and materials options—promote these options to all clients.

  3. Encourage clients to leave in place as many building components and fixtures as possible (such as high quality surfaces and bath fixtures).

  4. Make energy efficiency a top priority in design, materials and equipment. For example, upgrade wall and ceiling insulation to exceed Title 24 requirements.

  5. Design/specify renewable energy sources such as solar electric systems.

  6. Use/specify "green" materials. For example, use durable flooring that wears well and does not require rapid replacement or specify FSC-certified woods.

  1. Protect the health of building occupants. Use low VOC and formaldehyde-free building components. For example, substitute standard particleboard with formaldehyde-free alternative materials for panels, millwork and cabinetry. Another idea is to use low- or no-VOC paints.

  2. Design and build for water conservation. For example, use a water catchment basin to collect water for landscape irrigation or pre-plumb for a grey-water system.

  3. Conserve materials through reuse and recycling. For example, use aluminum scaffolding instead of site-built wooden scaffolding. Try outsourcing materials for reuse by others or using materials salvaged from others.
Contact your county coordinator for more information about becoming "green" in your county.
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gra 8/31/07