It’s a fact that homeowners are looking to green home decor solutions for inspiration today. Not only are the number of available options increasing, but there are also more affordable options that offer incredible value for money. One such option is cork flooring. Sustainable, beautiful and very comfortable, cork flooring is becoming popular with homeowners and renters alike for a variety of reasons, not least of which is because it is incredibly hard wearing and a cheaper alternative to other traditional wood flooring options.

Cork is undoubtedly a sustainable form of flooring because it comes from the Cork Oak, the only tree that can regenerate after the removal of its bark. As such, there is no need to chop trees down to make it. Trees can remain standing and can oftentimes be harvested again in ten years without inflicting damage. However, this amazing fact is by no means the only benefit of cork floors, others include:

1. Cork flooring is particularly durable. It is not the same type of cork as that used in wine bottles, which chips away easily and is relatively soft.  Cork flooring is incredibly tough, does not wear easily and can actually take heavy traffic over a sustained period of time. If maintained well, there is no reason why it cannot last in excess of fifty years.
2. Unlike other types of wood flooring, cork floors are actually resistant to fungus, mold and mildew so it will not degrade easily. It is also hypoallergenic and thus is ideal for homeowners with pets and children.
3. Cushion for your feet.  Most wood floors do not give but cork flooring is different. It is comfortable for those walking on it barefoot and gives a little to cushion your steps, which is actually a strange but lovely sensation.
4. In keeping with its eco-friendly makeup, cork can help you save on your heating bills. It insulates any room well and resists temperature fluctuations so it remains a comfortable temperature all year round.
5. Cork flooring does not require any special DIY knowledge because the tiles or planks are very easy to install

Although many individuals still choose to go for traditional wood flooring, more and more experts are beginning to recognize the value of cork floors and so are actively recommending them to homeowners. It is actively considered to be an upgrade on other flooring types because of the advantages outlined above and the fact that it is just a affordable as other types of flooring, if not more so. For example, it is more sustainable than bamboo and yet not as expensive. Furthermore, it comes in a variety of colors and is not limited by the use of an individual room – it can be suitable for all rooms in the home.

In short, cork floors give you a fantastic option that checks all the boxes at once. No trees have to be cut down to create it and it can last for years. As a durable, healthy, affordable and comfortable choice, it offers every member of your household significant advantages. It also ups the value of your home so it is an all round winner.

This article has been written by Dylan Taft, an experienced Hudson Valley real estate professional, working in home sales and purchases. You can visit Dylan’s website for more information on property taxes, and details on the Ulster County real estate area.

The US currently uses about a third of the planet’s annual energy production, and only contains 6% of the world’s population. It is time to make a change. As stated in my previous article (see Upgrade Energy Efficiency with Government Money), there are plenty of tax credits and incentives out there right now to make improving the energy efficiency of your home a worthwhile investment, but where should the downtown condo owner start? With no giant roof to replace or huge attics to insulate, often condo owners have a difficult time deciding where to start on the path of energy efficiency upgrades; I can help.

As with a home energy upgrade, a condo energy upgrade should still begin with an energy audit. A qualified home energy auditor will use high output blowers, thermal imaging cameras and a variety of other specialized tools to determine where and when heat and energy loss is occurring in your condo. The best advice I can give you is to go with a company that strictly focuses on energy audits, not a company that also does energy improvements, as they may be tempted to sell you upgrades based on their profit incentive.

From my experience and research, the top three areas of energy loss for condominium owners, and thus, the focus for environmentally friendly upgrades, should be:

1. Building envelope
2. Water heating
3. Heating and cooling system

When most people think of building envelope, the first thing that pops into their head is windows. They are the most visible and most frequently talked about energy upgrade. Additionally, they are a very sellable upgrade and are profitable for contractors to replace, but they don’t always need to be replaced! Take a look around your condo and estimate what percentage of the wall surface area is windows; I’m guessing it’s less than 20%. The other 80% of the area is where I recommend starting your energy upgrades. With today’s blown-in insulation technology, entire wall cavities can be insulated with cellulose though very small holes drilled in the wall. A better-insulated exterior wall can work wonders on the comfort of your condo. Better air quality, lower noise levels and less room for unwanted critters to sneak in are all great side effects. Keep in mind that new windows can and do increase energy savings, they just don’t always give you the best return on investment.

The next area of upgrade is your water heating system. If you live in a condo complex where hot water is included in your HOA fee you may need to petition other homeowners to have the system upgraded, if not, the process is pretty straightforward. Water heating bills typically account for 15%-25% of your monthly energy costs. The options available for hot water heating today are much more efficient and affordable than systems available even a few years ago. I recommend going with an on demand or tankless hot water system. These systems only fire up when hot water is needed and avoid the unnecessary expense of storing hot water. A great side benefit is the extra storage space you will gain when you rid yourself of that huge hot water tank!

Lastly, and typically the most daunting area of energy upgrades, is the heating and cooling system. Your heating and cooling expense typically accounts for the largest part of your energy bills, however they are also typically the most expensive to upgrade. As with the hot water system, if this is a building wide system you will have to get the association involved to make any changes. Most heating and cooling systems over 10 years old are inefficient and worth replacing. Today there are many options to choose from, both gas and electric and many different configurations based on the type of heat delivery mechanisms present in your condo. If you have a boiler configuration, the most impressive systems I have seen are the gas hydronic condensing systems. These boiler systems are extremely efficient, in the neighborhood of 95%, and can even be used as your source for hot water, killing two birds with one stone is always a plus. There are even hydronic systems such as the Honda FreeWatt that can also produce useable electricity for your condo, while providing heat and hot water; that’s about as eco-friendly as you can get. HVAC systems have also come a long way and today’s energy star rated units are highly efficient. If you do have an HVAC system, be sure that before you replace the unit, you have your ducts cleaned and inspected for leaks, as this can often be a major part of energy loss. The least you can do for your heating and cooling system is to invest in a programmable thermostat. This upgrade alone can save you hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs.

After undergoing upgrades in these sections of your condo, I wouldn’t be surprised to see your monthly energy bills cut in half!

The combination of rising fuel costs, increased environmental awareness, and the greater availability of affordable eco-friendly upgrades present homeowners with a great opportunity to upgrade their residence. Both state and federal governments are offering fantastic programs to help offset the cost of such energy upgrades.

Homeowners interested in improving energy efficiency should start with an energy audit. An energy auditor will come to your residence and perform a service very similar to a home inspection; however, focused solely on the efficiency of your heating system, windows, insulation, and appliances. The net result will be a detailed report giving your home an energy efficiency rating on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) scale – be sure to ask for an explanation as there is one scale for pre-2006 and one scale for post. The energy audit will give you a clear picture of where your money will reap the best return on energy efficiency upgrades, as well as set a baseline for the “as-is” state of your home, and eventually, the efficiency of the “to-be” state.

The most common areas of deficiency are windows, insulation, and appliances, all of which can be upgraded with assistance from state and federal government programs. When considering which upgrades to undertake, keep in mind that the upfront cost is only part of the equation, years of discounted utility bills should also be considered in your analysis. For example, an energy star rated refrigerator costs less than half as much to operate per month as a 10 year old refrigerator, so you need to amortize the costs. As always, make sure that any upgrade is done by a reputable, licensed and insured company.

Once your upgrades are done, the next step is to apply for your tax credits. The most pertinent programs for common consumers are the Federal Residential Energy Efficiency Personal Tax Credits and the proposed Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources Energy Star Rebate Program. The Federal program credits you up to 30% of your upgrade cost with a $1,500 maximum.  The Massachusetts DEOR program is slated to receive $6.2 million in funding under the American Recover and Reinvestment act, to give consumers rebates for energy star appliance purchases. The DEOR is a program to recycle old appliances and replace them with new, energy star rated ones. At this time, there are no specifics on exactly what the limit per household would be and how it would be distributed – I would estimate it would be for one to two appliances, the major energy eaters such as refrigerators and washer/dryers, additional details and program logistics are forthcoming following the program’s announcement in late October 2009.

The net result of any energy efficiency upgrade will be hundreds of dollars per year in tax savings and energy costs, as well as a more valuable and marketable home.