Modest Size Design
Efficient use of space and more intelligent storage features make the home feel more comfortable and more spacious. An open floor plan with multi-functional spaces was used to reduce rooms that were rarely used. The open plan kitchen includes a breakfast bar, and a unique indoor herb garden, which takes advantage of the great natural light.

Orientation and design for daylighting
The home has great natural light with large windows and doors and unique loft windows. It the cooler months the home can be opened up to allow great airflow. Both light and ventilation create a truly comfortable home.

Window Sizing, Location and Shading
The site for this home was chosen for the advantage of its north to south orientation. Minimal windows were placed on the east and west walls to reduce excessive solar intake. Windows on other walls are high efficiency. Trees and porches provide some shading from the sun.

Other
A 900 square foot outdoor living/entertaining area allows the homeowners and guest to stay close to nature and take advantage of the best weather Florida has to offer. With a two-story design, the formal seating area is on the second floor and the first floor has a bar/grilling area.

Structural Framing
Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) were used to construct the walls and roof of this home. SIPs are premanufactured for the site using a sandwich approach with insulative foam between a material such as oriented strand board (OSB). They provide high insulative qualities and lock together tightly eliminating airflow through the structure.

Windows
Andersen 400 series windows and doors were installed for their high efficiency and impact resistance.

Exterior Wall Finishes
Siding, decking and railings were made from composite materials manufactured with recycled content, which saves landfill space. The materials are also durable and low-maintenance saving material and energy costs to continually keep them protected.

Roof
A metal roof covers this home. It is highly reflective, which helps to reduce heat transfer into the house increasing energy efficiency. The roof is also made from recycled content material and is recyclable at the end of its life, although the life expectancy of a metal roof is extremely long. This is also a low-maintenance product.

Finish Floor
Bamboo Flooring in all rooms in contrasting finishes really compliments the contemporary style of the home. Bamboo is a readily renewable resource.

Cabinetry and Trim
All the cabinets are finished with no VOC finishes. The kitchen and breakfast bar counter tops are made from post-consumer recycled glass by EnviroGlas Products. Using this material to make useful and beautiful product keeps it from becoming waste that clutters the landfill.

Efficient Use of Materials
SIPs panels (described in Green Products) are premanufactured so there is little to no waste created on the jobsite during construction. Scrap generated at the factory is generally reused in the product too.

Products with Minimal Off-Gas
All the paints, stains and finishes used in the home are Low/No volatile organic compound paints. Fewer VOCs mean less offgassing that could potentially impact the quality of the occupants' indoor air.

Ventilation Design (related to climate conditions)
The homes' heating and air conditioning system brings in fresh air that is "conditioned", or brought to the proper temperature and humidity before entering the living space. In cooler months, the main living area has an open floor plan allowing for increased use of natural ventilation.

Building Envelope
The walls were constructed of 6 1/2 inch SIPS panels and the roof used 8 1/4 inch panels. As discussed in the Green Products section and below under Performance Data, the use of SIPs panels create a highly insulative and energy efficient structure. Add the energy efficient windows and doors and the overall building envelope is tight and efficiently maintains the interior space at a comfortable temperature.

Mechanical Systems
A Water Furnace geo-thermal heating and air conditioning system uses the earth's own moderate temperature to heat or cool this home. The system includes a dehumidifier and is plumbed to pre-heat the domestic hot water when the air conditioning is running.

Report performance data if available
R-values reported for the building envelope are R-25 (walls) and R-30 (roof). A blower door test was conducted pre-drywall and indicated zero recordable leakage in the home.

Greywater Collection and Reuse
Greywater (water from showers, tubs, faucets and washing machine) is collected, stored and reused to flush the toilets saving up to 40 percent of water on a daily basis.

Rainwater collection and reuse
A micro-irrigation system uses water from our 1000-gallon rainwater harvesting cistern, which supplies 100 percent of irrigation water. The capture system helps to reduce runoff from the property during high storm events.

Water Efficient Appliances, Equipment and Fixtures
Dual-flush toilets allow the occupant to reduce water use when possible. Low-flow faucets help to use less water than conventional systems.

An "instant" hot water system provides hot water to the shower or faucet at the push of a button. This means no more running the water and wasting the water waiting for it to warm up for use. Instant hot water is achieved with a hot water recirculation system, which circulates the hot water in your home so that when you open a fixture the water is warm immediately. Hot water recirculation systems save water, energy and money. Some estimates claim that the average family of four wastes up to 17,000 gallons of water per year just waiting for hot water to arrive. Not with an instant hot water system.

Landscape Design
All of the landscaping placed around this home is comprised of Florida native plants. Native plants are less susceptible to disease, require less maintenance once established, and are more capable of withstanding drought, flood and heat characteristic of this climate. The design and plant selection creates areas of color and interest all year round as well as creates a special area to attract wildlife such as birds, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Other
A water feature has been included in the garden area. It was designed to enhance the ambiance of the garden but has several unique traits: it uses water discharged from the homes' whole house dehumidifier to keep it full, it in turn discharges to a wetland area, and the waterfall is powered by a solar water pump. More detail on this system is available here.