D e te rm in e d to
take a d iffe re n t approach w ith h e r ow n, she
and her husband, Ray, em barked on a
th o ro u g h , th o u g h tfu l green re m o d e lin g o f
th e 1960s house th e y b o u g h t last year.
Low u tility bills and a healthier h o m e fo r
th e ir ch ild re n , Kate, 5, and M ark, 3, w e re
th e m a jo r goals. B u t Laura also relished th e
challenge o f fin d in g e co -frie n d ly products.
“ W e did w h a t w e could do, w h a t w e could
a ffo rd , and w h a t m ade sense,” she says.
T he Stukels firs t spent $ 4 0 0 on an
energy a u d it th a t set th e ir d ire ctio n . To
reduce energy use, th e y added insulation
and w e a th e r stripping, replaced black
shingles w ith lig h t-c o lo r ones, and installed
Energy S tar-qualified w indow s. T he h om e
cam e w ith a high-efficiency furnace, so
Laura and Ray o n ly needed to re p a ir th e
central h um idifie r. T hey also invested in
e n e rgy-efficient appliances, w ater-saving
fixtures, and a p ro g ra m m a b le th e rm o sta t.
W ith each decision, th e Stukels w eighed
pense, ease, and tra d e -o ff. In som e cases,
w h e re a p ro d u c t was m ade held g re a te r
green value fo r th e cou p le th a n w h a t it was
m ade of. Laura and Ray w e re happy th e y
co u ld accom plish b o th goals by buying
recycled-glass c o u n te rto p s m ade w ith in
m iles o f th e ir house.
O ne o f th e Stukels’ to u g h e st decisions
was flo o rin g . They considered bam boo, b u t
tra n s p o rta tio n issues negated its greenness.
Laura and Ray instead kept th e existing
oak flo o r in th e d in in g and living room s,
installed a new m a tch in g w o o d flo o r in th e
kitchen, and chose a b e d ro o m ca rp e t th a t
scored high in te rm s o f in d o o r air quality.
Turn th e page fo r m o re in fo rm a tio n on
th e Stukels’ green strategies.
^Contest
•Winner
GREEN
IM PRO VEM EN TS
W ho: Laura Stukel
W here: A 1966
Colonial in Elmhurst,
Illinois
Best M ove: A cost-
effective approach
to green remodeling
that offers energy
efficiency, better
air quality, and long-
lasting style and
function.
by K IT S E L Z E R
1 0 6
SEPTEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
P H O TO S : GREG SCHEIDEM AN N
