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Press Release

Free Resources and Tools for Home Green Remodeling
Roseville Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Family Housing Fund team up to create first-of-its-kind Green Remodeling Plan Book

Roseville, MN (November 30, 2011) – Learn what's new in green remodeling. The Roseville Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Family Housing Fund have launched the Green Remodeling Plan Book (www.livingsmarter.org/grpb), a first-of-its-kind free online knowledge suite designed to help plan and implement green remodeling projects that benefit your family, your pocket book, and your neighborhoods.

The Plan Book provides sustainability ideas that address the complex issues homeowners often face when making green renovations. It also offers an easy-to-understand encyclopedia of best practices, resources and tools to get the best results for your remodeling investment.

"Remodeling your home is more than new colors and textures; it's an opportunity to make your home more affordable and more efficient," said Jeanne Kelsey, RHRA Program Manager. "Green remodeling has been taking the building industry by storm and when done correctly, it means a healthier home, lower utility bill bills, and a home that is built to last. Plus, it adds the potential for increased resale value."

Based on the best green remodeling practices — those proven to realize impressive cost savings and sustainability in affordable, attractive, healthful homes for a variety of construction types—the Plan Book details critical steps homeowners should consider before remodeling. It also offers the best strategies and material considerations for updating the exterior and interior of a home.

"Our goal was to provide the latest in green remodeling information in one place, in an easy-to-access format" added Kelsey. "It's no longer necessary to search dozens of print and online sources to find the most useful information and up-to-date advice."

The Green Remodeling Plan Book has four main sections:

BEFORE YOU REMODEL – details the important structural and aesthetic characteristics of a home and discusses the ways a home functions as a system so homeowners can prioritize remodeling projects and avoid unintended consequences

REPLACE THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME – discusses proven strategies for making the shell of a home more durable and functional so homeowners can choose the best materials and energy solutions to ensure their home's comfort and efficiency

UPDATE THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOME – describes various wall and floor finishes, surfaces and energy uses so homeowners can achieve a healthier indoor environment

CONSIDER OTHER SPACES – demonstrates the virtually "guaranteed" ways homeowners can reduce energy and utility costs and shows how to assign value to green remodeling projects in the bathroom, kitchen, mechanical and utility spaces

The Plan Book was the vision of the two partner organizations and is based on the decades of experience from Minnesota's leading experts on green building, green remodeling, and energy efficiency, including:

Janne K. Flisrand Flisrand Consulting
Karen Filloon, Southview Design,
Patrick Huelman, Cold Climate Housing Program, University of Minnesota Extension,
Cindy Ojczyk, Simply Green Design,
Rebecca Olson, Minnesota Building Performance Association,
Tom Sagstetter, Elk River Municipal Utilities and
William Weber, College of Design University of Minnesota.

We recognize the work of Jodi Wilson for her research of the Green Remodeling Plan Book.

Kelsey summed up, "As communities embrace green-building rapidly, we're convinced our residents will come to rely upon the Green Remodeling Plan Book as the most trusted, useful and easy-to-navigate resource to make their homes look better and work better for their families and the environment."

Access the Green Remodeling Plan Book at www.LivingSmarter.org/grpb.

The Green Remodeling Plan Book is hosted on Roseville Housing and Redevelopment's Authority's Living Smarter Web site—a community campaign launched in 2010 to help current and potential Roseville residents access resources that help them protect our environment and save money in the process.

For more information about the Green Remodeling Plan Book, please visit www.LivingSmarter.org/grpb. You can also call 651.792.7086 or email: pr@livingsmarter.org.

Press Release

Connecting for a Lifetime of Healthy Living in Roseville, Minnesota
October 26, 2010 (PRWeb)

Living Smarter appeared on KSTP TV Sunday morning news. Watch now