At Comstock Residential Contracting, Green Building is not just a trendy buzzword: it is the practice of creating and using healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition. A green home pays attention to energy efficiency, water and resource conservation, the use of sustainable or recycled products, and measures to protect indoor air quality. Concern for the environment is part of every decision from developing the lot to choosing the wall paint.

FREE ENERGY AUDIT
Call our offices at 914.762.0100 to schedule a home energy audit with our professionals. The cost of this energy audit is FREE if we are hired to work on your home. Some of the value-added improvements we have made for our clients include:

• Install energy-efficient windows with low-emittance (low-E) glass coatings, gas filler between the glass panes and composite framing materials.
• Install more efficient heating and cooling systems that are properly sized based on your home’s square footage.
  Install a geothermal heating and cooling system using renewable energy to provide heating, cooling and even hot water at little monthly cost.
• Consider a tankless water heater to heat water only as it is needed.
  Install solar panels to supplement a geothermal heating system to be completely "off the grid".
• Install Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) or Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems to temper fresh air intake with conditioned exhaust air.
• Install "Smart House" lighting and HVAC controls to minimize energy usage.
• Increase the amount and quality of insulation to reduce heating and cooling losses. Some newer types of insulation can be healthier, with little or no emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and more efficient.
• Don’t stop at the 2nd floor ceiling and 1st and 2nd floor exterior walls when it comes to insulation. Roof rafters, foundations and crawl spaces can be insulated, too.
• Install insulated recessed light fixtures.
• Install low-VOC carpets to improve indoor air quality. Other environmentally friendly flooring choices include linoleum, a natural product, and laminates that look like hardwood.
• Buy more-efficient appliances. ENERGY STAR-rated appliances use an average of 30 percent less energy than standard models. Front-loading washers use 40 percent less water and 50 percent less energy than top-loading washers.
• Install plumbing fixtures that use less water including new and improved low-flow toilets and showerheads.
• Use recycled plastic lumber and wood composite materials instead of hardwood for decks, porches, trim and fencing.
• Dispose of construction and demolition debris with entities that sort through and recycle these materials.
• Install wood-burning stoves or high efficiency fireplaces with sealable glass doors.