Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

Environmentally friendly remodeling is a (baby) booming trend. Those born between 1946 and 1964 are the “main group” that California contractor John Shurtz serves.

Jan McDougal chose bamboo cabinets at recycled glass countertops.

Mr. Shurtz, one of a growing legion specializing in enviro-friendly renovations, said he’s fielding a growing number of calls from boomers weighing energy efficiency, indoor air quality and the use of sustainable building materials.

He has been commissioned to do everything from build new decks for around $20,000 to massive overhauls priced at $1 million. A typical $500,000 tab could include a “major remodel, with a room addition,” he said.

“Remodeling is inherently more green than building a new house,” said Mr. Shurtz, who also serves as president of Green Builders of Marin in Northern California. 

In addition to the obvious environmental advantages, introducing environmentally materials into the home affords homeowners lower maintenance, lower energy bills and living conditions free off toxins from certain types of paint or fabrics. Esthetically speaking, eco-friendly materials in the home carry a certain caché that other alternatives lack.

“I love my bamboo floors, and I think it speaks to something more natural,” said Jeff Ide, a 45-year-old civil engineer who became acquainted with eco-friendly materials by way of his architect when he renovated his San Francisco home.

Given the opportunity to spend $50,000 on their homes, baby boomers are more likely to pursue environmentally friendly additions such as insulation than other age groups such as Generation X (30 to 41) or Generation Y (18 to 29), according to a Wells Fargo survey.

Baby boomers are “at a place in life where they know who they are, and are ready to make a difference… and have the economic resources to do it,” said Kimberly Rider, an interior designer in San Rafael, Calif. and author of “The Healthy Home Workbook: Easy Steps for Eco-Friendly Living.”

A “conservation approach” is a key characteristic that defines a truly “green” home, versus a dwelling with green features, said Roy Prince, an architect and founder of GreenHomesForSale.com in Santa Barbara. 

“Where green really begins is in the conservation… how much heat does (the home) keep out when it’s hot and how much does it retain when it’s cold?,” Mr. Prince said.

During a remodel, Mr. Prince said he advises clients to insulate the walls and attic, as well as consider dual-glazed, low-emittance windows.

Beyond that, health and financial concerns often drive improvements. Many homeowners who have children with asthmas are choosing non-toxic paints that promote indoor air quality, Mr. Shurtz said.

The addition of solar panels, meanwhile, which come with a $20,000 upfront cost, can lower energy costs over the long term. However, there are other tactics to reduce high energy bills, including ceiling fans, planting trees for shade, and orienting windows to get more passive daylight, Mr. Shurtz said.

“Heating or cooling without having to put in a mechanical system… that’s big,” Mr. Shulz said.

In addition to building materials, homeowners can expect to have more choices to add green features to their homes, including furniture fabrics and carpets made of natural fibers, Ms. Ryder said. Some furniture fabric makers are integrating patterns on organic cotton, too, she said.

In general, eco-friendly remodeling offers a way to pull together “different, hip and cool” materials, said Jan McDougal, who chose bamboo floors and cabinets, and a kitchen countertop made of recycled windshield glass for her Mill Valley, Calif. home.

Barry Applebaum, a 46-year-old retired chef, said he’s impressed with formaldehyde-free kitchen cabinets that have self-sealing drawers and doors in his Glen Ellen, Calif. vacation home. Next up is the addition of a new deck, and the potential to add solar panels going forward, Mr. Applebaum said.

“The long range plan is for this to be our retirement home,” he said.

While boomers are creating cozy and efficient nests, the addition of eco-friendly building materials and features also could add to a home’s value within the next five years, estimated Mr. Prince.

Being environmentally friendly is already an asset, “it isn’t a huge asset in this particular market,” he said. “It is an asset for people who understand what an energy efficient home is and are looking for that. But the general public, while there is a lot of emphasis on green today and homebuilders are tending toward green, they are not really building on a large scale.”