Create jobs, save resources

Renovating buildings rather than building new can be great for the environment and the community.

If you’ve ever worked on your own remodeling project, you know it can be a lot of work. Most major renovation projects take a lot more manpower hours than new construction. Putting the people to work on a major save to an historic building or doing some cosmetic fix-up on a house in the neighborhood is making an investment in the community. It creates work and improves the look and spirit of the neighborhood.

Renovating also saves resources. Any time you can salvage architectural aspects of the existing building over buying something new, you’re conserving materials and saving the energy used to manufacture new products.

If you’re working on your own renovation project, consider these local resources. There’s more where these came from on the Live Green Cincinnati resources pages.

Need help gathering or parting with building material or furniture?

• Building Value. An excellent place to pick up some unique and worthwhile products for your project. They will also arrange to take any building material donations you have to make during your deconstruction.
• Wooden Nickel. An amazing collection of antiques and architectural salvage.
• Cincinnati Freecycle. A give-and-take of useful seconds. Post any furniture or items you can no longer use or check out the listings to find the perfect chair you’ve been looking for.

Need skills or an extra hand with your project?

• Green City EcoStruction. Professional local service for green building and projects.
• UtiliKris. A skilled handyman located downtown who has experience choosing and working with environmentally friendly materials.