Elite Home Remodeling

Recently Remodeled Accessible Bathroom

Most people take showering for granted, but not Deanna Field. She is a paraplegic and thanks to the ingenuity of Elite Remodeling, after 10 years, she was able take a shower. John Voigt of Elite, an “Aging in Place Specialist”, lead the design aspects of the project.

“It was quite a challenge,” explained Voigt. “The bathroom was small and all the closet space for their clothes was also limited.” We designed a plan that would allow full wheel chair access to the bathroom including a unique new roll-in shower, an easily accessible countertop area and separate privacy area for the use of the toilet facilities.

“The remodel gave me back some level of independence. Prior to the remodel I needed to have someone present to help me transfer to and from the tub chair. Now I am able to use the shower on my own any time day or night”, explained Deanna.

Greenwashing: Buyer Beware

The term "green" is being increasingly applied as an easy way to identify products, including building materials and remodeled homes, as having a better or smaller impact on the environment.

That's fine for marketing slogans and advertising headlines, but it's also dangerous if the product (or house) isn't truly sensitive to its environmental impact and is simply trying to ride the coattails of a sincere effort to lessen our carbon footprint.

In those instances, intended or not, the term "greenwashing" comes into play. Simply, it refers to incomplete, insincere, exaggerated, or downright untrue promises made about a product's environmental performance, with no real evidence of lesser impact to back up those claims.

As a professional remodeler confronted with "green" claims from a variety of building product manufacturers and some competitors, we are keenly aware of the threat that greenwashing can have on our credibility as a quality contractor.

So, at Elite, we make every effort to substantiate the claims made by our suppliers regarding reduced water use, recycled content, energy efficiency, and other performance characteristics that result in a remodeled home with "green" features and benefits.

How? Thankfully, the "green" movement within and outside of the remodeling industry has spawned a wealth of independent, third-party companies that scientifically verify those claims with a battery of standards and test methods. When considering a product or system for a remodeling project, we look for certifications, as well as specific performance information (such as the precise amount of energy a furnace claims to save), to give us confidence.

In addition, several local, state, and national "green" building and remodeling programs have cropped up to help us and other contractors identify materials and methods that result in better-performing homes. These programs not only serve as frameworks for higher-quality housing, but also refer to the independent verification programs, such as the EPA's WaterSense (for low-flow plumbing fixtures), to give us more assurances that we are truly building green.

Elite is a member of Green Built Texas and has two Certified Green Professionals on staff. This allows us to participate locally in Texas' efforts as well as stay abreast of the local and national continuing education programs.

That way, we can all be confident and feel good about your investment and our combined efforts to make the Earth a healthier place to live for us and generations to follow.

Warm regards,

John Todd
Elite Remodeling
Showroom & Design Center
2930 Preston Road, Suite 980
Frisco, Texas, 75252
(972) 334-9800 - phone
(972) 334-9890 - fax
jtodd@elitehomeremodeling.com
www.elitehomeremodeling.com

Click here to subscribe to this newsletter.
Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter.