Jacksonville Florida has seen an impressive population and building growth in the past 20 years. Visitors come to Jacksonville Fl because of the temperate climate, the growing economy, the beaches, the vibrant arts and culture scene and to enjoy a park system that is the largest in the nation. They stay for those reasons; they desire the quality of life available in this Northeast Florida city.
Jacksonville has seen 33,000 housing starts since 2000. The population has grown nearly 80 percent since 1970 with an additional 60 percent increase projected by 2030. Jacksonville is faced with providing services to that growing population.
The Mayor's Growth Management Task Force has studied the need to plan for providing the new roads, electrical power, water and waste disposal that this growth requires. They recognize that the community is faced with a crisis because of the need to provide for these services. Jacksonville must address this issue because with the projected growth the community will find that water and electricity are finite resources. The Mayor's Growth Management Task Force issued a report last year that supports the need to incorporate Green Friendly building practices in planning for the continued growth of Jacksonville.
Many communities have spearheaded the use of Green Friendly practices to reduce the demand on their resources. Jacksonville builders and homeowners are joining that battle. Incorporating building standards such as Energy Star, Florida Water Star, and Florida Green Building Coalition green home certification accomplishes that objective. The best news for homeowners is that using these practices not only saves them money in the long run but also benefits the community and the planet.
Last year JEA and the Northeast Florida Builders Association announced new standards for those homes labeled "Green Built Homes". The homes are required to be Energy Star, and Florida Water Star. Energy Star homes use at least 15 percent less power than homes built to regular code; Florida Water Star homes conserve millions of gallons of water a year. They must also meet the standards set by FGBC Homes (Florida Green Building Coalition Homes) which are even more energy saving.
In March 2007 at the Jacksonville Home and Patio Show at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, a JEA Extreme Green Home was built that demonstrated energy efficient products and practices. The JEA Extreme Green Home offered information about products and practices that make a home "Green". Today home owners can choose energy efficient appliances and technologies, exterior landscaping and irrigation, water saving devices, and green building materials. Homeowners were given the opportunity to see the value of incorporating these practices in the building and remodeling of Jacksonville homes.
The good news for homebuyers is that many local builders are constructing homes using Green Friendly products and construction processes. CornerStone Homes, Beazer Homes, Collins Builders, Hovis Custom Builders, Premium Panel Homes, and Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corp as well as others have certified homes that meet one or more of the above standards.
CornerStone Homes is building Energy Star certified homes in Nocatee's Austin Park development. Beazer Homes' Energy Star homes have been built in the Summerland at Bartram Park and in the Villages of Westport. The Jacksonville builders are meeting the challenge; homeowners must demand these products when building new homes.
The success of the Green Built homes program rests with the residents of Jacksonville understanding the value of applying these standards when building or updating a home. Local home builders can meet the demand, but prospective home buyers must ask builders, architects, lenders, and developers for greener homes. Jacksonville homeowners must incorporate Green Friendly material when remodeling and when buying a new home. For your personal tour of great Jacksonville Florida homes and condos, contact James Angelo at www.locatehomesflorida.com
For additional information about "Green Friendly" building practices and products explore these websites:
http://www.jea.com/community/conservcenter/programs/greenbuilt.asp
http://www.energy.gov/forconsumers.htm;
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