Green house: making your home greener isn't as hard as it seems.

• Author: Coon, John
• Position: Living Well

Being green isn't limited to tossing a soda can into a recycling bin at your office. There are plenty of ways you can also be environmentally friendly at home--starting with upgrades to your house itself.

Older homes built several decades ago still dot many Wasatch Front communities. Living in these houses can often mean dealing with everything from higher energy bills to dangers like exposure to toxic chemicals in old paint.

Still, doing a massive rebuild or building a completely new house isn't always the best solution. Making a few simple home renovations can save costs and extend the life of an older home.

Find out what needs fixing

Mapping a detailed renovation plan is the most important first step for a home owner. You need to identify all problem areas requiring attention so you know if you can do a few smaller renovations or need a full-scale remodel.

"If you have a good plan that you're starting from--like your home plan or a plan of your remodel--that's always going to set you up for more success or a better project in general and eventually save you more money," says Kurt Antonino, owner of Green Tech Construction.

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Each older house has its own set of concerns depending on the era in which it was originally built. Homeowners can make specific changes in one type of home than might not work well in another. To know what green upgrades will work best in meeting your home's needs requires putting in extra time to examine the complete package.

Putting wood cabinets in a kitchen or bathroom, for example, needs to take into consideration what materials were used to create the product. If the particle board was made using formaldehyde or a strong glue, the cabinet could cause off-gassing in a sealed home and release fumes that will adversely affect air quality and could become a source of health problems.

"It's not a simple process," says Bill Brechbill, owner of PCR Utah Green Contractors. "It is something where you really have to look at the total function of your home."

Small fixes can go a long way

Properly installing and sealing windows, doors and pipes can go a long way to making any home greener. It will keep air from escaping the home and improve air flow from room to room and floor to floor. Improper window, door and pipe installation can undermine the energy value of a home because it disrupts smooth transmission of air throughout the home.

Proper sealing and caulking may be all that is necessary in some...