Tony Zimmerman

About Me:

Verifiers accredited by the NAHB Research Center for its national green home certification program independently confirm, through a process of document review and on-site inspections, that all green program requirements and points specified by a builder are in place for a candidate home.

I have a broad range of knowledge I offer my clients. Whether that involves environmental assessment or the opportunity to reduce utility bills, I help my clients make the right choices. The housing & real estate industry is changing, I understand the newest designs, technologies, and environmental issues. With EcoBroker and NAHB National Green Building Program education I help my clients make sense of building green with practical applications and best managment practices.

My innovative energy and environmental perspective gaves me an edge in helping clients understand the true cost of housing. I am looking forward to continuing to positively impacting the quality, comfort, safety, and health of my clients through the consulting and verifier services I provide.

Areas of Expertise

Tony Zimmerman, of Hasman Restoration & Construction Services in Traverse City has earned the NAHB National Green Building Program Accredited Verifier designation, having successfully completed a unique and informative training program on the energy and environmental issues that affect residential green building. Tony joins the movement of professionals pushing the real estate market toward energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthier design/features in homes and buildings. The "performance home" movement is getting a boost thanks to this type of high quality professional designation.

Taking a team approach I have assembled a group of professional service providers to answer any and all questions you may have about green & sustainable building. With the ever growing need for affordable housing, I work with individuals, builders, groups, government organizations, and community programs to establish green, energy efficiency, and sustainable housing that is affordable, comfortable, and healthy.

Greening a Not So Green Home

1. Green up your appliances. Getting rid of that old refrigerator in the garage could save you as much as $150 a year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

2. Watch the temp. Almost half a home's energy consumption is due to heating and cooling.

3. Save water. Put an aerator on all household faucets and cut your annual water consumption by 50%. Install a low-flow toilet.

4. Clean green. Stop buying household cleaners that are potentially toxic to both you and the environment. Read labels for specific, eco-friendly ingredients that also perform effectively.

5. Let there be energy-efficient light. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 32-watt CFL can save $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb.

6. Save a tree, use less paper. You can buy "tree-free" 100% post-consumer recycled paper for everything from greeting cards to toilet paper.

7. Want hardwood floors? Opt for bamboo. Bamboo is considered an environmentally friendly flooring material due to its high yield and the relatively fast rate at which it replenishes itself. Also look for local manufacturers as importing bamboo contributes to energy consumption.

8. Reduce plastics, reduce global warming. Each year, Americans throw away some 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags. Reduce, re-use and recycle your plastics for one of the best ways to combat global warming.

9. Use healthier paint. Conventional paints contain solvents, toxic metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can cause smog, ozone pollution and indoor air quality problems with negative health effects, according to the EPA. Opt instead for zero- or low-VOC paint, made by most major paint manufacturers today.

10. Garden green. First, use compost instead of synthetic fertilizers. Use native plants as much as possible. Native plants have adapted over time to the local environment and support native animals. They also use less water and require less of your attention. Focus on perennials. Finally, consider using an old-fashioned push mower. The only energy expended is yours.