Will building green net you green?

It's too early to tell, many experts say. More people are going green when renovating their homes, but they're basing their choices on "perceived value" rather than hard numbers. But the market is growing and is expected to continue to grow. The 2007 McGraw-Hill Construction SmartMarket Report on Attitudes & Preferences for Remodeling and Buying Green Homes predicts that green preferences will boost the “true” green home market to $20 billion by 2010 from $2 billion in 2005.

The variety of reasons people buy green homes is huge. The top four reasons given by the participants in the McGraw-Hill study are operational cost savings (90 percent), environmental concerns (84 percent), occupant health (82 percent) and potential higher resale value (73 percent). Green renovation is also steadily growing in popularity. Nearly 40 percent of home remodeling is being done green, the study reports. The most-used green products for home remodeling projects are new or replacement windows (47 percent), HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems (44 percent) and new window equipment or hardware (32 percent).

So making green choices when remodeling has, at the very least, the potential to save the homeowner money in energy and other costs. And going green doesn't have to mean making large wholesale changes.

That can mean putting up formaldehyde-free insulation or installing a high-efficiency air conditioning unit. A new kitchen might use energy-efficient refrigerators and dishwashers and fluorescent compact lighting; a bathroom, water-efficient toilets. The exterior of the house might use bricks from the existing house or a metal roof, which helps with home cooling and offers cleaner rainwater runoff. Landscaping might rely on low-water planting techniques or take advantage of rainwater barrels that capture water from the roof to be used in landscaping irrigation.

Not all green projects are created equal. You may fall in love with certain environmentally sustainable flooring, for example, but if it costs twice as much as the oak flooring typically found in your neighborhood, you probably won't get your money back. Following are some small-scale green projects that can add to your home's eventual resale value without costing you a fortune.

A composite deck: "Remodeling" magazine's 2007 Cost vs. Value Report reported that homeowners could recover 77.6 percent of a composite deck's cost in resale value. Composite decking products offer the look of natural wood in a low-maintenance product made with recycled plastics, such as plastic grocery bags, milk jugs and detergent bottles. Unlike traditional wood decking, composite decks don't need staining, painting or sealing. The plastic protects the deck against termites, rot and harsh environmental conditions. Although the composite deck may look and even feel like wood, it will not crack, warp, splinter or create slivers like a traditional wood deck. Instead, a composite deck offers a solid, slip-resistant surface that is comfortable and easy on bare feet.

Replace old windows: Homeowners can recover more than 80 percent of the cost of replacing windows when selling their homes. Plus, the cost is also offset by the money you save by making your home more energy efficient. Framing material makes the greatest difference in the cost. Choices, from least to most expensive, are aluminum, vinyl and wood. Vinyl windows require no staining or sealing and fit into existing frames. They are also more energy-efficient than aluminum windows. Wood windows require more work to install because you have to remove the whole frame and replace interior and exterior trim. Windows that have two layers of glass are best, ideally with argon between the layers. Look for a low "U factor," the rate at which heat passes through a window. A low emissivity ("low e") coating can help lower the U factor still further by slowing the rate of heat passing through.

Seal exterior doors: One area where you will frequently find air leak is around the exterior doors of your home. Make sure that your door seals at the bottom against the weather stripping. Replacing the weather stripping is generally a simple project and is quite affordable. You can also replace, or put in, a storm door. Storm doors come in all types of materials and prices. A good storm door can go for about $200. It is not necessary to go for a really expensive storm door with a foam core in order to save on energy bills.

Add insulation: If your attic is the source of air leaks, consider roll out insulation. All you have to do is measure the appropriate length and width and unroll the insulation. You'll need to hire a professional to install blow in insulation, which you may need if you have excess space between the interior and exterior walls of your home. Blow in insulation can also be used in attics and basements.

Buy energy efficient appliances as you replace older models: When the washing machine breaks down, go for a more efficient front loader, for example. But while potential buyers can be sold on a more fuel efficient house, some things aren't so universally appealing. Not everyone, for example, is thrilled with low-flow faucets, water efficient shower heads or low-flow toilets.

We've learned a long time ago that people are willing to make sacrifices for healthy items like improve their infiltration and HVAC system, a quality VOC-free paint, formaldehyde-free plywood, etc. But, if they have to make a sacrifice that includes reduced water pressure in the master shower, they're not going to do that.

You may also qualify for tax rebates or other incentives if you go green when renovating your house. Check out these websites for more details: