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We got a GRAND!!! Green Homes are not UGLY :-)

By Florida Green Construction, Inc.

Home Builder with Florida Green Construction, Inc. CBC1260957

February 28, 2009 03:17 AM

Last night at the Flagler Parade of Homes Awards Dinner our Birchwood Plus model took home the coveted Grand Award, in addition to a Green Award. For years the perception among local builders, realtors and consumers has been that Green Homes are either decidedly unattractive or cost too much for most people to be able to afford one. It seems this tide is now changing, and this GRAND Award should serve as but one validation to all builders of Green Homes that it is possible to build Green Homes that are beautiful and affordable at the same time.

The winning home is located at 76 Eric Drive in Palm Coast, Florida. The base price for the model is $315,900 for this 3,200 living-square-foot home. Certified Green by the Florida Green Builders Coalition, FPL BuildSmart, Florida WaterStar, EnergyStar and Florida Friendly Yards and Neighborhoods - this home is a Green fortress, capable of withstanding hurricane winds of up to 200 miles per hour. The model is full of exquisite architectural details and designer upgrades, but its the unseen beauty of superior steel-reinforced ICF construction and Icynene foam roof Insulation that make this home not only truly Green, but comfortable through and through. In this home, there is virtually no dust. There are no termites, mold, pollen or any other common inconveniences that most people in warm climates have to struggle with - just quiet, comfortable space for the home's rightful occupants - humans.

florida green home - award winner

We are thrilled that our efforts have been acknowledged by industry peers, and that it seems more and more homes in the area are at the very least going to be offering Green upgrades in the months and years to come. We are hoping that the city of Palm Coast follows in the footsteps of DeLand and Deltona in Volusia County and encourages builders and consumers to go Greener by offering incentives. After all, construction is still our main industry and it only makes sense to lower its negative environmental impact, and just maybe, fighting for new development here will eventually stop being so difficult.

If you are looking to build a home in the Norht East Florida, consider building Green First, whether you choose to build with us or someone else - Green is simply better.
Visit us at: www.myfloridagreenhome.com

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Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Wow, Palm Coast is moving into the 21st century. I have always been pretty skeptical of any novelties in construction, until I moved to a new condo in 2004. I came there after Charley battered Daytona, and Frances open the skies for nearly two weeks and there was so much water, I have never seen before. Meanwhile in the unit the carpet was dry even by the balcony sliding doors, and in older condos people had to reap off the carpets, and they all were flooded. And then our electric bill "shrunk" to under $100 a months, while we were paying double in a smaller older condo. And our condo is not truly "green".

Good news for people who are thinking of building, and not buying on the resale. You can get a terrific price right now on the resale, but over time, quality and comfort outweigh the money spent. We all forget what we spent very quickly, but the comfort stays with you forever.

Feb 28, 2009 04:14 AM

Florida Green Construction, Inc.

Florida Green Construction, Inc. - Palm Coast, FL

Jon - thank you for the encrouraging comment. There are some things people can do even in the older home to make it more energy-efficient, but depending on construction methods and insulation used, these updates can be rather costly, and still won't make a home hurricane resistant:-) As for electric bills and such, the last bill for this model was $30.00. Of course no one really cooks in the model or take showers, but the lights are on, the AC is on, and there are 3 computers running full time - so the bill is still a lot less than it should be.

We really are hoping Palm Coast sees the benefit of building Green... It would help if some larger builders in the area jumped on the idea, as well as realtors and brokers, but that takes time. Thanks again!

Feb 28, 2009 04:44 AM

Tamara Perlman

Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

That's very encouraging. I built an ICF in 2005 and love, love, love living in it. It's so quiet and feels so solid. Energy bills are about 50% of local average during peak, per conservation expert at the utility district. On the shoulder seasons, I'm sure it's less than that, as I don't have to heat for days at a time... In the summer in Truckee/Tahoe, we don't use air conditioning and the passive cooling works great for those few days when it gets really warm (for us).

Curious what you use for air flow? These homes are pretty tight and I'm guessing in a humid climate, that can be an issue.

Feb 28, 2009 04:51 PM

Florida Green Construction, Inc.

Florida Green Construction, Inc. - Palm Coast, FL

Tamara - thank you for the comment, and great to know that you are happy in an ICF home. The homes we build are pretty much entirely air tight, the humidity of the outdoors doesn't penetrate inside. Ceiling fans are pretty common in most Florida homes, so you have air movement if needed. Since all the materials used in buildng and insulating the home are green materials, they don't contain any chemicals that could spill into the indoor air:-)

The larger problem where I am is usually mold and such, due to excessive humidity, so for most homes, if if they are only used for vacations, the AC has to be on all the time just to keep mold from growing. So energy efficiency is even more of an issue here because of it. Home currently on shortsales or foreclosures have not had AC on for months, which can ve very dangerous. I would sicerely encourage anyone purchasing a home that's been abandoned for any amount of time to get a decen Mold Inspaction - most of the mold we have here can't be seen with a naked eye, like black mold, and it can cause serious health issues.

PS: Always wanted to visit Lake Tahoe in the winter!!! Maybe some day!

Mar 01, 2009 09:04 AM

Tamara Perlman

Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Yes, I am very happy with it. I suppose the exterior air is too humid to circulate thru the interior? Here we have "air to air heat exchangers" that pull fresh outdoor air into the home. Since they are so airtight, cooking smells, showers, etc can stick around for days if fresh isn't brought in... Just wondered how you dealt with that in a moist climate.

Mold that isn't obvious like black mold--great... all we need is one more unseen challenge!

Tahoe is fabulous in the winter, but we've been getting rain today. Not good for the snow. Hopefully will get colder overnight so we have some fresh white stuff in the morning!

Mar 01, 2009 05:11 PM

Mary McGraw

GLREA - Rockford, MI

2015: Solar Energy Is Still A Simple Machine!

Congrats on the award! Sounds like you have demonstrated that it can be done!

Mar 01, 2009 11:46 PM

Florida Green Construction, Inc.

Florida Green Construction, Inc. - Palm Coast, FL

Mary, thank you so much. We've been building only GREEN homes here for the past 3 years, and it seems no one was paying any attention before. So it really does feel great to finally be noticed as such, and for the local HBA to acknowledge that Green building is the trend they really ought to embrace.

:-)

Mar 02, 2009 02:11 AM

Florida Green Construction, Inc.

Florida Green Construction, Inc. - Palm Coast, FL

Tamara: I so miss the fresh white stuff:-) We have a few flakes recently in Jacksonville, and I mean a FEW, and it brought all traffic to a hault. Of course, the beautiful Atlantic makes up for lack of snow on most days, less the whole Christmas thing:-)

Mar 11, 2009 05:12 AM

Tamara Perlman

Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Hi--

Here it takes about 3' to slow things down and about 6' to bring things to a halt... Then the locals break out the snowshoes, xc gear, etc to get where they need to go! Maybe you should plan for XMas in the mountains!

Mar 11, 2009 06:26 AM

Florida Green Construction, Inc.

Florida Green Construction, Inc. - Palm Coast, FL

Tamara - I would absolutely LOVE it:-) That's how it ought to be... Gotta build some homes to be able to afford getting aways though first...
Thanks for making me drool!

Mar 16, 2009 03:05 AM

Tamara Perlman

Referral Network Inc. - Truckee, CA

Ok, post some of my Tahoe/Truckee pix above your desk and make it your incentive for getting those contracts! ;- )

Mar 16, 2009 06:53 AM