Green Remodeling: "It's Fundamental"

The judges gave kudos to this winner for “detailing the space, being considerate, and taking a whole-house approach.”

Remodeler Phil Kean moved walls and created large, open spaces within the house, adding about 1,400 square feet to this traditional ranch-style home. “We stripped out all the drywall and got exposure to the roof so the insulation was easy,” Kean says. “We replaced all the windows with energy efficient ones and installed dual-flush toilets.” The designers also used energy-efficient foam insulation, high-efficiency air conditioning units, a solar water heater, Energy Star appliances, CFLs, and insulated glass windows. It wasn’t difficult or constraining artistically to design with green products Kean says.

Kean and the clients made green choices during the product selection process. “Cabinets are locally made so there is no freight issue,” he says. “We try to discourage people from picking exported products unless there’s a reason to justify it.” Products are only a small part of green remodeling, noted the judges, who said that “Everything [Phil Kean Designs] touched they improved.”

Location: Winter Park, Fla.
Contractor and Designer:  Phil Kean Designs, Winter Park, Fla.

See list of all 2008 RDA winners.