According to Kentfield Architect, Sarah Robinson, an Alumni of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture;  that Being Green is not just to tear down and build from scratch but it's about "Seeing the untapped potential that already exists." She said:"For us, sustainability is not just about making green consumer choices, but is a lifestyle of resourcefulness that honors inherent value and respects the natural world."

Sarah Robinson, was thrilled, when her house, nestled in the native redwood and oak woodlands of Mount Tamalpais in Kenfield, Marin County, California, earned the 'Most Sustainable Renovation' Award from the prestigious Metropolitan Home Magazine. www.Methome.com 

Robinson's 1963 fixed-upper home incorporated the following winning features:

1) Retain and Expand upon the original mid-century contemporaries design. Robinson's usage of rich wood, glass, American clay plaster and copper echoed the 'sensual surfaces' from the outdoors.  She also retained the original custom mahogany paneling and cabinetry.

2) Resourcefulness- Adding 1200sf space (office, family room, extra bedroom) blow the building allows Robins the retain the original footprint of the building.  Large dormer captures light and provides views of outdoors

3) Usage of Reflective Surfaces Such as stainless steel, high gloss woods, glass cabinets, white ceilings makes the most of the natural light that streams into the space.

4) Reused 80% of the original building material and incorporated with recycled materials from other sources - including reuse of the redwood framing from the attic for additional trim, exterior siding and new kitchen dormer.  She also bought the seconds from a local tile manufacturer (Heath Ceramics in Sausalito). 

5) Incorporated the outside environment to be the primary decorative feature for the home by using 'floor-to-ceiling glass', adding skylights and creating a large dormer to bring the outside in.  

6) Usage of Energy-Efficient Mechanical Systems Suchas soy-based form insulation, Eco-friendly American clay plaster, no-VOC paint and double-paned windows. 

Footnote - I was contemplating about what to write for the RED HOT contest and my presentation to my Rotary Club about LEED and Local Green Buildings, when the Marin IJ Article about Local Architect, Sarah Robinson's winning design caught my eyes.  This is an excellent, timely example of how to creat a "RED HOT" Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Home while thinking Creatively Outside of the Box.    

The idea of not having to build an eCO-friendly building from scratch, using recycled, reused, local materials to avoid the commonly expensive GREEN features, which is the main concern in a heathy economy and a huge hinderance in the current dismal economy while creating stunning buildings in the process makes this RED HOT for me!   

* The post incorporated information from Met Home and Marin Independent Journal.   - a news article caught my eyes and just in time for the RED HOT entry!