Whether you are heating your home for winter, or attempting to lower summer air-conditioning bills, conducting a deep energy retrofit as one stage of your green home remodel can help reduce energy consumption by 50 to 90 percent. These steps can help you begin a deep energy retrofit.

Step 1: Learn about the financial benefits available to make a deep energy retrofit afforable.

Research tax subsidies, insurance premium reductions, green home mortgages and other incentives offered by private industry, federal and state governments for green home remodel and construction projects. This can make a deep energy retrofit more affordable.

Step 2: Assess current energy consumption and moisture conditions.

Analyze your home's energy consumption by reviewing several years' worth of utility bills. Through moisture meter readings and observation, determine the condition of your home's envelope during typical rain storms and windy ones. Conduct blower door testing, infrared imaging, and duct blaster testing.

Consider eliminating your HVAC system. Opt instead for an energy recovery ventilator, which provides continuous, year-round ventilation. Choose operable, tight-fitting storm windows and motorized skylights to round out this green home upgrade.

Step 3: Determine how much of your existing home structure to remodel.

This step involves thinking ahead. As your home becomes more energy efficient through standard green home remodel processes, such as wall insulation and air sealing, ascertain other potentially necessary renovations.

Will you need perimeter drainage around a basement that was once less airtight? Would your home benefit from back-vented cladding and additional window flash detailing? What elements already exist to allow for home generation of solar and wind power? Is it structurally feasible to install rooftop PV panels or a wind turbine?

Implementing renewable energy generation strategies is one of the most earth-friendly steps you can take during a green home remodel. Because of the complexity of such projects, deep energy retrofits are best discussed with LEED-certified green home remodel contractors.

Step 4: Reconsider Lighting, Plumbing, and Appliances

Dual flush toilets, compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and energy-saving appliances are individual solutions to completing this step. Evacuated tube solar water heating and rainwater reclamation are examples of systemic solutions.

Probably the most important consideration when conducting any type of green home remodel project is to think about how your home's systems work together. Choose a LEED-certified home renovation contractor to better understand the green home remodel process.