We asked Ted Bowers, owner of Bowers Construction in Sandpoint, Idaho to share his thoughts on sustainability. He's been in the construction business since 1974 and now works with his crew, the Sandpoint Ecobuilders, to build and remodel homes in a green way. Ted is also a LEED Accredited Professional and works with his clients to come up with affordable solutions for their homes.
Q. How did you become interested in sustainable building?
A. Quite honestly, my wife Gini is the one who got me motivated to educate myself in green building. A few years ago there was a move to build an extension campus for the University of Idaho here on the outskirts of Sandpoint. Since we were aware that most institutional buildings were being built green, we thought it would be a good idea to to get in on the ground floor and become part of the process, not only to get work but to possibly have an influence toward sustainability if it was needed. Other than that, I've been working for years as a remodeler and salvaging materials and appliances and whatever I can out of old houses has become a habit. For years, we have been environmentalists, recyclers and gardeners, so green building was just a logical extension of who we are.
Q. Do homeowners come to you as a "green contractor," or do you typically bring up the topic?
A. For the most part, we initiate the discussion, although more and more people are getting interested.
Q. When words like "sustainable" or "green" enter the equation, many people assume that means a project will cost more money. Have you found this to be true?
A. Depends on what people think of as expensive. Initial costs can be and usually are higher, but long term savings in terms of energy, health and environment are very real. Unfortunately, times are tough and that translates as how much out-of-pocket money a project will cost. Our biggest challenge in this industry and these times is to educate people on the long term benefits of sustainable building. Keep in mind, too, that this type of thinking is a critical need in our society. We in America tend to be short-sighted and don't think much beyond our own needs for this lifetime. "If I were king," I'd have our population thinking in generations--for our children and their children, who will inherit our mistakes as well as our successes.
Q. What are some practical ways that homeowners can make their homes more eco-friendly?
A. Get rid of carpets. Not only are they made with environmentally damaging products and processes, but they never get clean and after a short period of time, accumulate a wide variety of toxic substances which get into our air and bodies. Paint with low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints. Do an energy audit on your home to see where you lose heat (or cool air). Insulate attics with a minimum R-38 insulation and floors with R-30. These areas can often be reached in existing homes without much trouble and are highly cost effective ways to save energy. When replacing old appliances, consider Energy Star products. Also, on demand water heaters are great energy savers. A more intensive but very effective project is window replacement. Good but inexpensive windows are now available and get low-E glass in them. Properly installed, they cut down air infiltration and the low-E glass reflects energy back into the home in the winter and keeps the suns radiation out in the summer.
Q. Tell me about a successful green remodel that you've completed.
A. We just added a two-story addition on a rental home that we own right next door to us. We were able to re-use appliances and cabinets that we had salvaged from jobs we had done. We used low flush toilets, water saving shower heads and an on demand water heater. We used wood flooring and siding that were grown and milled locally, and painted walls and ceilings with low VOC. paints. Of course we used windows with low-E glass. e insulated the ceiling with R-60 insulation. We also added covered entry ways for all the exterior doors. This may not seem like much, but it allows people to clean or remove their shoes in inclement weather and not track in dirt and environmental pollutants. We pay the utilities ourselves and have noticed only a slight increase in energy use while more than doubling the size of the house.
Thank you, Ted, for sharing your thoughts on sustainable building. We usually hear it from the architect's perspective, so it is certainly refreshing to know there are contractors and builders who are striving toward sustainability in very a practical way.