“I think Deb was born green,” says Mary Campbell. Deb Chase confirms, “We're almost as green as Kermit!” So when the two women hired Little Green Homes to renovate their house in York, Chris Redmond, who runs the design side of the company, didn't have to sell them on efficiency. While many home owners are more focused on cosmetic features than structural ones, Deb and Mary were already so green-savvy that they even suggested a couple of sustainable features that the builders hadn't thought of. The renovation project was truly a collaborative effort, and the partnership between Little Green Homes and York residents Deb and Mary shows how exciting it can be when green businesses and green-minded consumers actively propel each other toward their sustainability goals.

Deb and Mary have worked at Mass General Hospital for more than ten years, Deb as a respiratory therapist, and Mary as a nurse practitioner. They moved from Boston to Maine in the mid-1990s and settled into their post-and-beam house in York, which had been built about a decade before. Then recently they decided it was time to improve the efficiency of their home, and they wanted to put additions on the house at the same time.

They didn't know exactly what they wanted when they decided to remodel, but they were sure they needed a building company that was focused on sustainability. “We found Little Green Homes through the Green Alliance web site and discovered a shared interest with Chris through our participation with the group MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association)” says Deb. They felt a great connection with Chris right away. They didn't have to look any further for green builders because they knew that Little Green Homes shared their principles. Their project with LGH in turn led them to join the Green Alliance, a green business union and consumers’ co-op that has helped Mary and Deb feel more connected with the green community and made sustainable options much more visible.

Little Green Homes helped Deb and Mary expand areas on the front and back of their house and reside the whole structure. They doubled the size of a small south-facing passive solar sunroom. They also re-insulated the home. “We used dense-packed cellulose insulation in the renovated areas and we added rigid foam insulation around the entire house, so the insulation was improved even in areas we didn't add on to,” says Chris. “It'll save a lot on heating. Even though we added a fair amount of square footage onto the house, the heating costs will probably decrease.”

“The project evolved,” says Mary. “We had about five different ideas for the deck. After many discussions with Jeff, John and Chris, we settled on a mahogany deck. It looks magnificent! Another 'in field' decision was suggested by Jeff and Chris. We had a traditional ceiling in the back rooms. Once the rooms were framed, we decided to go with cathedral ceilings that are absolutely exquisite. John, the foreman, had lots of great ideas and was very sensitive to what we wanted. He was great to work with, and really acutely attentive to our needs.”

Personal communication and attentiveness are trademarks of Little Green Homes. John was the foreman for the entirety of Deb and Mary’s six month project and made a point of always keeping them in the loop. “Rather than hire mostly subcontractors, we employ our own carpentry crew, which provides consistency and quality assurance on every project,” says Chris. “I like that our foremen stay on each project from start to finish, because I know that no detail, big or small, will be lost in the shuffle.”

Both Chris and Deb admit that it can be hard to take the step to remodel in the middle of a recession. Deb and Mary wish they could install solar energy systems, but that project will have to wait awhile. In the meantime, their new insulation and passive solar sunroom will save energy, and the sturdy materials that Little Green Homes uses for all their projects will avoid the waste and cost of having to remodel multiple times.

As for Little Green Homes, Chris says, “We started the business five years ago this spring, so we don't know what it's like to work in a booming economy. We're used to rough times, but we just keep focusing on building energy efficient, sustainable and durable projects for all of our clients. It’s the only way we believe a new home or renovation should be done.”

For the two women and for Little Green Homes, it was a match made in heaven. Mary says, “Deb investigates green options for everything. We're always trying to find people who are green, so Chris was a really good fit.” Chris agrees, saying, “Deb and Mary were a pleasure to work with.” Deb and Mary can't recommend Little Green Homes highly enough. “They continue to amaze,” says Mary. “When we work on the garage, they'll definitely be the builders we choose.”

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