'NATURAL REMODELING' Going green without starting from scratch

Consumer interest in green construction has continued to grow, but few people can afford to build an environmentally friendly house from the ground up. They don't have to, says architect Kelly Lerner, co-author of "Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House"
I see two top priorities. One, saving energy and reducing emissions from burning fossil fuels -- insulate, improve air seal, upgrade to a more efficient heating or cooling system, use compact fluorescent bulbs, upgrade to more-efficient appliances, add a solar water heater, or add photovoltaics. Second, developing indoor/outdoor spaces that help you reconnect to nature. We evolved living mostly outside; we now spend 90 percent of our time indoors. Human health is fully dependent on natural systems; for our health, we need to spend time in close contact with nature.