Get Your Own Green Contractor

You may be ready to go green with your home renovations just like your favorites on Renovation Nation, but are you worried about not being able to find a professional as eco-friendly as host Steve Thomas?

Because greenovating is not only popular and profitable, many sub-contractors, architects, and other home renovation and construction professionals have gone the extra mile and have become more knowledgeable about, or even certified in the usage of sustainable materials and layouts in their clients' homes.

Homeowners in larger cities are in luckyour local yellow pages may list a variety of professionals who advertise their green competency. If not, here is an excellent online resource for many acknowledged green builders and professionals.

When choosing between contractors, you want to be certain of their prior experience with environmentally-conscious projects, so ask them detailed questions, such as:

• How many homes have you renovated with an eye for keeping things as eco-friendly as possible?
• What are some of your favorite sustainable materials to use?
• Do you have a source or vendor for green construction materials that are within my budget?
• What is the "green" detail most frequently requested by your customers?
• May I contact one of your former customers for whom you did a greenovation?

If you are having a hard time finding someone who has previously worked on home renovations with an eye for the eco-friendly, all is not lost. Even if a contractor doesn't have much experience installing living roofs or mushroom-spore insulation, if their overall scope of work impresses you, then a little bit of research and a lot of watching Renovation Nation can go a long way towards figuring out how exactly you would like to go green during your home improvements. While your project might take slightly longer and may require more input from your end, if all goes well your builder will walk away with a new niche skill and you'll have the sustainable household that you desire.

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