ROI Tables for Green Tuneups and Remodelling

I've just discovered GreenAndSave.com which offers ROI tables for various improvements you can make to your home. These show the expected costs versus savings and return on investment (ROI) you might expect from making such modifications.  This is a great resource for comparing the value of improvements.

There are a few points on which I might differ such as windows and skylights. Windows show a payback of 2.3 years which seems very short to me. When I've looked at changing windows I've worked out payback at nearer 10 years. Skylights are another point. In the South they're more likely to cost you money for extra cooling. Skylights a great at adding heat in Summer because they're oriented horizontally for peak Summer sun; and loosing it in Winter because heat rises. Another issue is insulating walls. The cost of tearing out sheet rock in older homes is much higher than the tables indicate. It looks to me as if the cost shown is only the insulation itself not the associated cost of remodeling. But hey, if you're ripping out the sheet rock anyway it has to be done. 

My final gripe is solar attic fans, which do nothing to reduce the cooling demand. 95% of the heat that enters the attic comes through radiation. Increased ventilation does very little to change that. See my Vented Attics post.

Apart from those few issues the resource at  GreenAndSave.com is fantastic. Quite probably much of our differences come from the fact that I'm concerned only with the mixed humid climate of the Southeast which has its own unique challenges.

For the complete ROI tables and topic page with details on over 50 ways to SAVE Money and the Environment visit: Home Remodeling ROI.

Comments

[Charlie]

As the designer and resident of this eco-home 'transformation' and author of the content on GREENandSAVE, and I am delighted to spark this type of discussion from people that clearly care and ‘get it’! As you well know, ROI is not only based on regional factors but also on the relative lifestyle habits of any given homeowner or family. So, the calculations are intended to serve primarily as a guide to inspire Americans to review their options before they spend money on home improvements. The source of the information is an aggregation over three years from the research and best practices provided by Government Agencies, Non-Profits, fellow Architects, Builders, and Manufacturers. Overall, the best returns come when a homeowner has something that is old and in need of replacement and they elect to pick a new green/energy efficient product alternative. We are building out more profile ‘case studies’ of homes in different regions across the country and also articles on additional key topics...so we welcome any submissions through our Contact page: http://www.greenandsave.com/contact_us.html

[Preston]

I think you hit it right on the head. I'm wondering about the source of this information. ROI is extremely regional, too, what with differences in not only geography, but preferences and perceived value for certain upgrades.