Go Greener Tips

By JANE HODGES

American consumers eager to correct their energy-wasting ways and create a more environmentally friendly home can now hire eco-consultants. This growing breed of advisers charge anywhere from $99 to a few hundred dollars for a home visit followed by extensive prescriptions designed to address particular concerns.

The field of eco-consulting is mostly composed of small contractors or franchises reliant on solo practitioners in different markets, meaning that the experience of eco-consulting and the training of the consultant can vary. Some eco-consultants offer their services as adjuncts to green cleaning or landscaping businesses, while others offer consults in addition to green remodeling services.

To find out how we could improve our homes’ energy consumption, air and water quality, and appliance efficiency, we hired five practitioners in four cities: Green Irene in Seattle; EcoHome Chicago in Chicago; Green on the Inside in Boston; GreenHouse Eco-Cleaning in New York; and Pure Habitat NYC in New York.

Consultants spent anywhere from one hour (EcoHome Chicago) to three hours (Green on the Inside) assessing our homes. In Pure Habitat’s case, we arranged a five-hour deep cleaning (for $215), followed by a $40 to $80 eco-consultation. Prices varied from $99 for a Green Irene visit to $250 for an appointment with EcoHome Chicago, the latter of which included two consultants.

Both Green on the Inside and GreenHouse Eco-Cleaning asked us to fill out questionnaires in advance to streamline our meetings, while other consultants asked us questions upon arrival. We told Pure Habitat and GreenHouse Eco-Cleaning, for instance, that we’re expecting a new baby and wanted to offer our child a clean indoor environment. We told Green on the Inside about a possible kitchen remodel, and informed Green Irene that we plan to add insulation to our attic and basement in future remodeling efforts.

While consultants did provide well-trod energy tips (swap out regular bulbs for compact fluorescents, don’t microwave plastic containers, use a programmable thermostat), they also addressed our specific questions and generally provided concrete alternatives to any problems identified. In many cases, consultants identified solutions for our problems — or local vendors who could help — which they then shared with us in follow-up emails.

We learned something new from each of our consultants’ visits: EcoHome Chicago taught us that condenser coils behind the refrigerator need semi-annual cleaning to maximize efficiency. GreenHouse Eco-Cleaning used a special measuring device to reassure us that our indoor air quality fell within acceptable levels, but was also able to recommend specific air purifiers. As part of their incredibly thorough “green” cleaning service, Pure Habitat sorted which cleaning products to keep (more eco-friendly ones) versus discard and also referred us to local contractors that test paint for lead content. Green on the Inside articulated why recycled granite, glass or composite materials make better countertops than new granite or formica, and showed us how to check for refrigerator air leaks. Green Irene outlined our options for nontoxic spray insulation (suggested material: Icynene), told us about a balloon-like device that reduces chimney drafts, and gave us referrals for outdoor-lighting specialists and other contractors.

The main difficulty with the consultants, we found, was setting up appointments and receiving follow-up information. With Green Irene, our consultant had a busy schedule and needed to book us at least a week out. In Pure Habitat’s case, days would go by before we received a response to email messages. We also received only half of our Pure Habitat final report: We got an email with some specific recommendations, but never did receive the promised package via mail. (At various times, we were told that it had been returned for insufficient postage and that the company had an incorrect ZIP Code for us.) Pure Habitat, to its credit, did not charge us for the eco-consulting portion of our cleaning/consulting appointment. The company’s founder, Cory Tixier, said in a phone interview following our meeting that her business is a small operation and is having some growing pains.

While all the eco-consultants offered solutions that may save us money over time, it seems that in the near-term, we’ll need to spend it. In the green economy where these eco-consultants operate, going green costs green.

—David Kesmodel, Jennifer Levitz and Andrea Petersen contributed to this article.

Write to Jane Hodges at rjeditor@dowjones.com

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page D2

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