Re-purposing

Is new really better?  Commercial marketers are in the business to ensure that we all think so.  In these days of technology, certainly there is truth in newness is goodness.  I am convinced that cell phones are set to expire two years from the date of contract initiation.  However, there are still times when it is better to reuse the old stuff and just plain wear it out.  This is often true about existing houses.  Certainly the modern home can be fantastic, but think about the recycling opportunities that exist in an older home.  This could be the best green living decision you ever make.

First, to reuse an older home just adds that much more character to the space.  You can leave your mark on the place by updating/renovating it to suit your needs so long as the bones are good.  And unless you live in a termite prone area, or there has been a fire, chances are that the frame is intact and fairly solid.  Often older homes are constructed of true size materials, meaning 2x4s are truly 2″ x 4″.  Now, you will have to use the new fangled blown cellulose or foam type insulation to make up for the fact that anything built before the 1970s seriously lacked concern with the energy consumption crisis we are in now.  And as long as they do not create a vapor barrier, you will be significantly improving the interior climate.

Then for more character elements, you can salvage and reuse older materials in new locations.  Old bead board wainscot can be stripped and installed as a ceiling finish.  Doors can be relocated or put on new sliding track hardware to accommodate virtually any size opening.  And those old, leaky wood windows can be put to use inside to transfer light between spaces where sound may need to be somewhat limited.

Obviously new homes can be built to exceed today’s energy standards however, you can incorporate a multitude of these energy saving systems in an older home.  Generally speaking the guts of an older house will need to be repaired or replaced; mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems that is.  Replacing toilets with water saving dual flush types and large storage type water heaters with on-demand units, installing dimmer switches, and using high SEER mechanical units can generate savings over time.

So by re-purposing an older home you have the opportunity to appreciably reduce the biggest environmental footprint you likely will ever make on the earth.  At home, sometimes older really is better.