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Aug. 19, 2011 King County’s ‘EcoCribz’ - part II tells story of healthy energy retrofit Two-part video follows Renton family through a remodel gone wrong, made rightKing County GreenTools has released its second online episode of “EcoCribz,” a video series that highlights local families who are remodeling their homes using green products and practices. The goal of the online video series is to provide practical green remodeling advice that saves homeowners money and helps conserve resources.“Green Gone Brown” documents the story of the Brown family, whose Renton home remodel project went awry. Not only did their original contractor use unhealthy products and practices, but also made construction errors that led to water intrusion, structural damage and the installation of insulation that was harmful to Kay Brown, who has multiple chemical sensitivity disorder. EcoCribz Part II shows how the local green building community donated their time and expertise to fix the problems that the original contractor created for the Browns, and to improve the home’s energy efficiency and indoor air quality. “If you’ve ever done a remodel, you know things don’t always go as planned,” said Patti Southard, King County GreenTools program manager. “In this extreme case, the Brown family hired a contractor that made several errors. The story is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of many in our green building community who came together to correct those errors.” In addition to highlighting local green remodeling projects, EcoCribz also illustrates how homeowners can use King County’s online Eco-Cool Remodel Tool to find the best green remodeling products, practices and resources. The tool allows users to take a tour through a virtual house and find tips ranging from selecting healthy paint products, to what should be considered when replacing a furnace, upgrading a kitchen or landscaping the yard. “We had a lot of knowledge about green, but we did not know how to apply that knowledge to hiring a contractor,” said homeowner Kay Brown. “Using the EcoCool Tool would have really benefitted us.” “With EcoCribz and the Eco-Cool Remodel Tool, King County wants to show people that green home remodeling doesn’t have to be daunting or out-of-reach for the average homeowner,” Southard said. “By making smart, informed choices, you can create healthy, comfortable spaces that will ultimately save you money, increase your home's value and help protect the environment.” To view all EcoCribz episodes, or to check out the Eco-Cool Remodel Tool, visit www.ecocoolremodel.com. Related information Eco-Cool Remodel Tool Sustainable building King County Solid Waste
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