"Buyers wanting to upgrade to a new home but who are concerned about the subsequent tax increase should consider renovating existing homes. These buyers can reduce their environmental footprint and gain substantial long-term tax savings. Sarasota is ripe with renovation opportunities.”

-Grant Castilow

The Zen of Home Building

Florida Green Building | Spring 2009 Issue

Asian-influenced home is the greenest renovation in the state of Florida

It was difficult to decide whether to tear the house down and start over or renovate. The owner of the ranch-style house on Siesta Key wanted her home to tread lightly on the earth, especially considering its location: a saltwater inlet on a nature sanctuary, with views of mangroves. so she hired MyGreenBuildings, an award-winning, green-focused general contrator, along with Osborn-Sharp Architects (of the famed Florida house), who chose to use as much of the existing structure as possible. The result is the highest-scoring FGBC-certified renovation to date.

The 4,000-square-foot house scored 232 points out of 300 on Version 5 of the FGBC's Florida Green Home Designation Standard. A minimum of 100 points is required for a house to be FGBC certified. MyGreenBuildings co-founder Steve Ellis says, "We did not set out to be one of the greenest homes in the state, but that's the way it played out." Ellis and his business partner, Grant Castilow worked closely with their green consultant, Drew Smith of Two Trails, Inc., to make sure they met the requirements for taking the project green.

The house has many of the green technologies that have become increasingly familiar solar water heating, a closed and insulated attic design, energy-saving lighting and Energy Star appliances, HVAC with central dehumidification, water-saving toilets and other plumbing fixtures, and a manifold plumbing system that delivers hot water on demand to the point of use. The healthful interior finishes include green-core cabinets with no added urea-formaldehyde, and zero-VOC paints, sealers, adhesives, and finishes. The landscaping is Florida-friendly.

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