Educational sessions to provide homeowners and industry professionals with green remodeling solutions

There are 125 million single family homes in the United States, with only one to two million added each year, remodeling existing homes is the area with the largest potential impact for increasing energy efficiency and “going green.” The Michigan Association of Home Builders and Green Built™ Michigan’s Great Lakes Green 2008 conference/exhibition August 22-23, 2008 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, will provide both industry professionals and the public with educational sessions focused on green home remodeling.

“Homeowners that choose to remodel green can lower their energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent,” says Rich Kogelschatz, president of Heartland Builders LLC and chair of Great Lakes Green 2008. “By retrofitting an existing home with green techniques and products, homeowners will save money on energy bills and conserve our natural resources.”

More than 85 percent of Michigan homes are twenty years old or older. Remodeling and making energy efficiency improvements to these homes is the number one way to improve energy conservation across the state. Roughly 40 percent of our energy consumption results from heating and cooling our homes and buildings. Homeowners can incorporate simple, green elements into homes including:

- Low-VOC caulks, paints and water based low-VOC sealers
- Natural stone, ceramic tile, concrete or linoleum flooring
- Exterior grade plywood sealed with a no-VOC sealer for use as structural subfloors
- Heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) to improve ventilation while saving money

“Great Lakes Green sessions will provide actionable tools for homeowners and industry professionals to create and remodel homes that are both environmentally friendly and save money,” says Kogelschatz.

On Friday, industry professionals will choose from 18 seminars ranging from Green Built Training, LEED for Homes training, green products, geothermal heating and a renewable energy discussion. Ron Jones, founder and editor of Green Builder Magazine will deliver a keynote speech.

On Saturday, more than 20 seminars will be open to the public. Topics include a general discussion about green products, energy efficiency and “how to remodel your home or build a new one without getting a divorce.” “Saturday seminars are going to be very informational to the public and will provide the tools necessary to educate consumers on how to go green,” says Greg Powell, owner of Powell Construction Services, LLC and president of the Michigan Association of Home Builders. Actor, environmentalist and co-star of the hit HGTV show, Living With Ed, Ed Begley, Jr., will lead a session on affordable green home building at 11 a.m. and sign his book Living Like Ed at the MyGreenCottage booth.

To learn more about Great Lakes Green 2008 or to register, sponsor or exhibit, visit www.greatlakesgreen2008.com

Great Lakes Green 2008 is sponsored by Michigan Association of Home Builders, Green Built Michigan, Michigan Propane Association, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, DTE/Michcon, Meijer, Grand Rapids Press, Wege Foundation, MASCO, Whirlpool Corporation, Nu-Wool, Floorheat, WaterFurnace, Miller Johnson Attorneys and Counselors, Habitat for Humanity, McClelland & Anderson Attorneys at Law, US Green Building Council – West Michigan Chapter and Michigan Association of Realtors.

About Green Built™ Michigan
Green Built Michigan, Inc. is a 501(c)3 education, training and certification organization affiliated with home builder associations across Michigan since 2001. Green Built Michigan serves as an education resource to all members of the building community and homeowners who are interested in learning more about residential green construction. Green building offers homeowners the opportunity to have a safer, healthier, energy efficient and environmentally friendly home. For more information about Green Built Michigan’s members and programs, go to GreenBuiltMichigan.org.

About Michigan Association of Home Builders
The Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB) is a professional trade association representing nearly 10,000 members. The MAHB’s membership includes homebuilders and other professionals in the building industry. Affiliated with 33 local home builder associations across the state, the MAHB works to positively promote the building industry and impact legislative, regulatory and legal issues affecting housing affordability.For more information on the Michigan Association of Home Builders, go to BuildingMichigan.org.