2009 Home Improvement Challenge: Green Improvements Winner and More Favorites

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Green Improvements Winner: Achievable Green Living

With their four priorities in mind -- energy efficiency, health, durability/timelessness, and locally manufactured materials -- one of the first steps the Stukels took after buying their home in Elmhurst, Illinois, was to spend $400 having a professional energy rater conduct an audit. This pinpointed what they needed to do to improve efficiency and what the expected payback period would be. On the exterior, they replaced the black roof with lighter-color, 30-year shingles by GAF-Elk Timberline Prestique; installed new triple-pane, low-emissivity (Low-E) Energy Star windows with .27 U-factor rating; and added insulation and weather-stripping. The windows are double-hung so they can be open at night to draw cool air into the house.