The Green Wave

Green building-which encompasses energy efficiency, water conservation and use of sustainable building materials-is a trend that's beginning to spread beyond the ranks of committed environmentalists into the mainstream, say construction professionals.

That's due in large part to skyrocketing energy prices, which have spurred consumers to demand homes designed and built to conserve resources without sacrificing comfort.

"This is a direction that we all need to move in," says Eileen Thornton, director of sustainability for Newland Communities, developer of Bexley in Land O' Lakes, FishHawk Ranch in Lithia and MiraBay in Tampa" target="_blank">Hillsborough County's South Shore area.

The technology is available. Even a home built with some green features can save 20 percent per year on energy bills. And there are now homes equipped with photovoltaic panels that create enough energy to lower a power bill to practically nothing.

Green building is starting to gain traction in the marketplace," says Ray Tonjes, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders' Green Building Subcommittee. "It's started to grow."

But what, exactly, constitutes a green home?

As of now, there are no uniform national standards. Many builders, using a variety of sources, are coming up with their own criteria. And some local builder organizations, such as the Northeast Florida Builders Association in Jacksonville, have started green building certification programs in conjunction with local utility companies.

The National Association of Home Builders is working on standardizing requirements for green building while the Florida Green Building Coalition, a nonprofit organization consisting of developers, environmentalists and academics, has already developed a certification program for green-built homes.

Some builders promote themselves as green by adopting Energy Star standards. Energy Star is a certification program developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requiring that heating and air-conditioning systems must be 20 percent more efficient than state codes mandate.

This lack of uniformity is why there are shades of green in homebuilding. A home can incorporate some green characteristics or it can be green in every possible respect. Concurrently, the price tag for building green can be minimal or significant.

For example, it can cost relatively little to choose materials that are more energy efficient or are made from more renewable resources. But more elaborate green systems, such as exceptionally energy efficient windows or high-tech electrophotostatic air filters, can be pricey.

While the cost of the windows can be offset over time by lower energy bills, the electrostatic filter won't save homeowners any money. For those with allergies or asthma, however, the investment may be worthwhile from a health standpoint.

Essentially, according to Thornton, green building is about recycling, reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, conserving water, planning walkable neighborhoods so cars can be left in the garage and selecting products and finishes that are both renewable and durable.

"Sustainability simply means meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations," Thornton says. "And we must all work together. There's room for everyone under the green tent."

To that end, Newland has researched green building standards from all over the country and extrapolated those that best suit the humid Florida environment. Thornton notes that while Newland doesn't yet require its preferred builders to be 100 percent green, it does educate its building partners about cutting-edge green building products and construction techniques.

"We're dedicated to the concept of green building for two main reasons," Thornton says. "First, we're convinced of the merits of crafting quality homes using safe, beautiful materials that have less impact on the environment. And second, we believe that at some point, these smart choices will become mandatory. Newland is making sure we're ahead of the curve."

Oldsmar-based Nohl Crest Homes was the first company in the Tampa Bay area to build homes certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition. And last July, the company announced that it will build only homes that are eligible for green certification.

Nohl Crest's environmentally friendly Windermere model in FishHawk Ranch, which boasts 5,483 square feet of gorgeous interior and outdoor living space, was the Tampa Bay Builders Association's Showcase Home during the organization's 2005 Spring Parade of Homes.

Clearly, the Windermere sacrifices nothing in the way of luxury. Cherry cabinets that soar to the kitchen ceiling, granite countertops and a Murano glass chandelier turn heads while low-flow bathroom fixtures, tankless hot water heaters and Energy Star-rated appliances by Thermador, Bosch and Jenn-Air save money.

Because carpet and padding can emit harmful gases called volatile organic compounds (VOC's), carpeted areas were limited to three upstairs bedrooms. Zoned air conditioning cools only rooms that are being used while an electronic air cleaner removes allergens and particles.

Outside the attractive and well-insulated walls, the Windermere earns environmental points with a Florida-friendly landscape plan that uses drought-resistant native plants instead of thirsty turf. A cistern collects rainwater and reduces storm-water runoff while the swimming pool uses salt purification and ozonation systems that reduce the amount of chlorine needed.

"This home looks as beautiful as any other home, but the materials and techniques are very different," says Judy Preston, vice president of marketing for Nohl Crest.

Some of the differences are visible, such as use of renewable materials in wood floors and stone sinks. Other green features, such as nontoxic paints and air filters, are detected by odor-or the lack thereof. Because there'll be no harsh chemical odors from varnish or gas emissions from floor covering, a green home won't have that familiar new-home smell. Still, other green elements are entirely invisible, such as sealed ducts, house pressurization and mold-resistant building materials.

A green home will cost more to build, but Preston says the tab is lower than consumers may think. "National statistics say building green will hike up costs anywhere from 3 to 6 percent," Preston says. "But Nohl Crest can build green for less because our building standards were already so high."

Certification by the Florida Green Building Coalition is tough to earn, Preston adds. "The public needs to be aware that some of us are certified green builders and others are builders who'll simply tell you that they build green," she says. "There's a difference."

Indeed there is, says Jennifer Languell, vice president of the Florida Green Building Coalition. "The process by which a builder earns the FGBC rating is comprehensive and the documentation is exhaustive," Languell adds. "We actually get involved with the construction process. This isn't as simple as installing energy efficient air conditioners or state-of-the-art water heaters."

Overall categories to be evaluated include energy efficiency, water usage, site planning, indoor air quality and disaster mitigation. Points are earned for compliance, and green homes must notch a score of at least 200 to earn certification.

Languell, director of the Green Building Learning and Design Center at Florida Gulf Coast University, says she has noted heightened interest in green building statewide. "I see it from both builders and consumers," she says. "Florida residents are concerned with protecting and preserving the environment they enjoy."

Once builders are on board, it's up to them to help their clients see the green in going green. Bill Pizor, vice president of operations for Parkview Homes, says his company sells customers on cost-savings.

"When we build homes with R-30 insulation to save energy and lower air conditioning bills, our customers are happy," says Pizor, whose company builds custom and semi-custom homes in Tampa" target="_blank">Pasco County. "When we use tech-shield aluminum foil to back roofing materials and reflect sunlight and heat, our homeowners can see the savings."

In addition, Pizor says, tinted glass, heat recovery systems that use air-conditioning output to heat water, 13-seer air conditioning units and other state-of-the-art components will begin paying for themselves right away.

"We know that the average

homeowner will live in his house for only seven years," Pizor says. "So we create a cost-efficient home that will generate payback in that amount of time. Our clients understand that paying a little more on the front end will result in savings down the road."

And builders working hard to lessen environmental impact are reaping financial and philosophical rewards.

Mark Maconi Homes is a small custom builder that uses durable and renewable materials and air conditioning units that replace harmful coolants with more benign substances. But Pete Krauser, company president, says it is about more than appliances and ratings.

"We're trying to be good stewards of Florida's resources," Krauser says. "At Mark Maconi, we believe it's possible to build a beautiful home without negatively impacting that home's surroundings."