Spotlight Green Remodel

The Renewed American Home, remodeled for the National Association of Home Builders’ International Builders Show in 2007, was built in 1909 and features a unique vernacular Florida style.

Remodeler Stephen Gidus of PSG Construction kept the classic home true to its era by duplicating the lines, soffit, fascia, crown molding and siding.

Gidus says remodeling using green standards didn’t prove to be more difficult than a typical remodeling project. Research is key, he says, as well as the understanding that going green isn’t necessarily more costly over the long haul.

“You’re going to recoup these costs if you stay in the home a while,” says Gidus. “That’s what you’re trying to achieve. A lot of items have a return on their investment, directly or indirectly.”

Stephen Gidus
PSG Construction
Downtown Orlando

Key Team Members: PSG Construction; Lucia, Kassik & Monday; Robb & Stucky Furniture & Design Studio.

Green Features: Energy Star dishwasher and clothes washer; energy-efficient clothes dryer; low-flow faucets and faucet aerators; a “safe room” (certification points are granted for making a home more secure and a safe room offers protection against Florida’s storms); drought-tolerant turf planted in sunny areas only; drought-tolerant trees and shrubs; insulation foam sprayed against the trusses; engineered wood and recycled materials; tight building envelope; low-VOC paint; carpeting limited to only two rooms.

A Golden Opportunity

Employees of Phil Kean Designs practice what the company preaches regarding green building. Rob Smith, construction manager, recently finished remodeling his own Winter Park home, and it’s green to the core.

In fact, once formally certified, the 2,700-square-foot home will become one of the first single-family residences in the state to be Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.

“Green is my passion and my specialty, but when I did this remodel it was actually my first,” Smith explains. “I learned that you just have to start early. You can educate yourself and spend your money wisely.”

This Green Oneco Remodel project focused on energy- and water-efficiency, Smith notes.?

Rob Smith
Phil Kean Designs
Winter Park

Key Team Members: Phil Kean Designs; Allsolar and Xtreme Foam.

Green Features: Energy Star appliances; lighting uses compact fluorescent light bulbs; metal, double-paned PGT-insulated windows; solar water heating system with an 80-gallon storage tank; dual-flow toilets; micro-jet irrigation system for more targeted watering; drought-tolerant plants; soy-based foam insulation; high-efficiency heat pump (15 SEER) with variable speed air handler.

Servant’s Quarters No More

Remodeling a home for green certification can have its challenges, especially since Hardwick General Contracting was determined to maintain the architectural integrity of the 73-year-old structure.

But contractor Greg Hardwick made it work. This College Park project, dubbed Amherst Place, is Water Star-certified, Energy Star-certified and a certified green home by the Florida Green Building Council.

“It was originally a servant’s quarters, and was remodeled to today’s standards,” explains Hardwick.? “In some ways it was tough. There are a few more logistics with an existing shell.”

Greg Hardwick, CGB, CGP
Hardwick General Contracting
College Park

Key Team Members: Hardwick General Contracting; Aggressive Appliances; Ferguson Enterprises; Sherwin Williams; Spence and Vaughn Fine Kitchen and Bath; Discover Marble and Granite.

Green Features: Kitchen cabinetry made of Lyptus, a fast-growing, renewable wood; Energy Star refrigerator and dishwasher; double-bin recycling cabinet; Cambria countertops and a thin 1/8-inch grout line to promote better hygiene; energy-efficient dryer and Energy Star washer; low-VOC paints, stains and finishes; light-colored roofing to keep the home cooler; non-toxic, pressure-treated wood used for the exterior shell; four 55-gallon drums to harvest rainwater, which is used to irrigate the landscape; drought-tolerant plants; low-E, Energy Star windows; dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets; floors made from recycled wood products; carpeting (made from recycled plastic drink bottles) only in the bedroom.?