In 2012 I had the privilege of representing the sellers of the first LEED GOLD Certified residence in Florida.
It was a truly fascinating experience. I learned so much about sustainable living, recyled products, and energy-efficient appliances and standards. And of course , I was given the opportunity to employ specific marketing techniques built to attract those buyers who would appreciate this unique home.
Here is the history: built on the site of a n existing 744-square foot home, rather then demolishing the old home and discarding its waste, the new owners in 2008 converted it into a two-car garage for the new home. The house was completely deconstructed, and much of the remnants were recycled. The new home was built on pilings above the original home. Cool, huh?
The open kitchen featured beautiful avonite recycled glass countertops, carefully selected ENERGY STAR (use at least 15-20% less total energy than standard new homes) stainless steel Bosch appliances and eat-in counter space. Energy efficient products are seamlessly integrated throughout the home aimed at improving water and energy efficiency, including compact fluorescent lighting throughout, impact resistant Green-Seal certified Andersen 400 series windows and doors, high-efficiency ceiling fans, a geothermal HVAC system, dual-flush toilets, and 1,000 gallon rainwater cistern for irrigation. This home also qualified for an Energy Efficient Mortgage (EEM).
- Homes Across America 2008 Showcase Home Award
- First Gold Rated LEED Home in Florida
- USGBC LEED for Homes Project Profile (1 of only 8 in the country to be selected)
- LEED for Homes-Gold certification
- Energy Star and Water Star certification
Here are some additional features of the home that ended up being of HUGE VALUE to the buyers:
Paints:
Zero VOC, or low VOC, paints, stains and finishes, which mean that all the paints, stains and finishes used in the home give off little or no pollutants compared to regular paints and finishes.
Foundation:
Built to withstand extreme weather, with the main support pillars anchored to reinforced concrete foundations, the house was built using structurally insulated panels, a foam-wood composite that creates a tightly sealed building envelope, making the home very efficient and strong. The insulation under the main house is a soy-based spray insulation.
Plumbing:
Dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets were features that use much less water than conventional systems.
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