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Maintaining your smallest footprint on the planet-one remodelers' secret to true green renovations
July 1st, 2009
 Download the Building Savvy Article
Every builder and every remodeler in the world knows the true secret to building or remodeling green. But very few of them will tell you.
Instead they will talk about Thermo windows, 20-inches of blown insulation, expanded foundations, thermal doors, double insulated everything, solar panels, rain harvesting and other interesting solutions to living greener.
However some of these are quite expensive and may not be as green as they might lead you to believe. Just pretend for a moment that you are truly interested in living green...in protecting the beautiful resources of our planet and the atmosphere...in leaving the environment in better shape than we found it. Continuing along that same hypothetical line, consider striving for green living and not because it's trendy or intriguing but because it's the right thing to do.
If you're ready to do the right thing, here's advice from a Dallas remodeler who was successfully building green before green was something other than the color of a frog.
The big rule about small.
Rob Jackson launched Servant Remodeling in northeast Dallas 23 years ago when he was only 21 years old. His successful and reputable business has given him more experience and expertise than many remodelers twice his age.
Jackson says a typical scenario goes something like this:
Homeowner: "We need a second living area and the one we have is too small. We've got step-kids coming to live with us every other weekend, and grandkids living with us permanently, and my mother-in-law for Lord Knows How Long! We need more room. Let's add another story over the garage or build-out next to the kitchen."
Remodeler: "Instead of expanding your space and increasing your remodel cost and your utility bills, let's re-do the space you have. Let's get rid of that unused room off the garage and turn that into a full-sized utility room where you can process all this laundry. Let's merge the family room into that screened-in porch and make a room that really invites a big gathering. Instead of adding another space when you have a formal dining and living room you don't use, let's redo the space you have."
"Let's remove the wall between the two living areas to make a larger living room. Let's turn the formal dining room into a smaller living area where the kids can go to work on the computer; play video games and be convertible to a guest room. And finally, let's take out that wall between the kitchen and the old utility nook and that dark pantry and turn it into a big welcoming, wide-open light filled room. Now when you're entertaining or preparing food in the kitchen while everyone else is in the living room you can be a part of what's going on. By creating a bar counter it will give people a place to sit and talk to you while you're in the kitchen without getting into your way."
"As far as extra bedrooms are concerned, since you only need them once or twice a month for a night or two, let's put a loft over the family room and get rid of that study no one uses and make it into a bigger bedroom with a private bath."
What happens? The 2800 square feet the home owner had stays at 2,800 feet, and the rooms become big and gracious and welcoming. The utility costs are reduced-not increased-because now we have more efficient windows, doors insulation and duct work. And even better, taxes are not increased on a larger dwelling.
The remodeler in the Hero of the Day. It was the right thing to do.
And a second scenario fairly common in his customer calls:
Homeowner #2: "I want a bigger kitchen, more luxurious bathroom and a more expansive family room. I think we need to add about 1,000 square feet on the back of the house- just expand the back wall out a few feet and make everything bigger."
Remodeler: "Instead, how about we expand the kitchen by incorporating that dark hallway at the back of the house, expand the family room by lifting the ceiling a bit and incorporating the unused bedroom/storage mess, and enlarging the master bathroom by adding a separate shower, tub and a private toilet and getting rid of a messy, misused linen closet that lines one wall. We're expanding your space, better using your existing space and reducing your utility bills. It's green and it's good. "
Jackson says the big rule for building smart is building small. Stay small. Condense, don't expand- a surprisingly simple concept.
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