GREEN FLORIDA

Look on any newsstand and you’re likely to see the topic splashed across the covers of a variety of magazines. For example, in recent issues of Traditional Home and Newsweek celebrities such as Meredith Vieira and Brad Pitt show off their eco-friendly renovations or tout the importance of sustainable communities.

Even the White House has gradually become greener through a series of environmental upgrades meant to reduce pollution, protect water quality and save energy and money.

In short, green building is not a passing fad. It’s here to stay.

Why? Because it makes sense. Building green is about creating homes that are energy efficient, cheaper to operate, produce less pollution (indoors and outdoors) and withstand the forces of Mother Nature.

Those involved with the green building movement—from developers and architects to academicians and manufacturers—are working together to find solutions that minimize the environmental impact of homebuilding without sacrificing comfort and even luxury.

Don’t shake your head and dismiss all these folks as radical hippies wearing hemp suits and chaining themselves to trees.

The fact is, green building has stepped out of the wings and into the spotlight mostly because on the surface green homes look like any other home. They just function better.

So let’s set aside environmental debates such as global warming for a moment to discuss this fact: Deep down we’re all environmentalists, even if we don’t label ourselves as such.

None of us wants to breathe toxic air or drink polluted water. None of us wants to live next to a landfill or be dependent on foreign oil to heat our homes and none of us want to watch our homes fall apart during severe weather.

All of us would love to live in a home that uses less energy and water (translation: lower utility bills).

That’s why this column has been introduced. Each issue, we’ll discuss the trend of designing, building and renovating homes in ways that focus on environmental concerns.

We’ll tell you about the benefits of going green, the most innovative eco-friendly products on the market and the builders who are constructing green homes. We’ll keep an eye on what’s going on in the Tampa Bay area and in Florida.

We won’t shy away from discussing the problems and disagreements within the green movement, such as the costs involved, the obstacles facing builders and the ongoing debate over what is and is not truly environmentally friendly.

This column is also here for the most basic of reasons: People are more interested than ever in green building. Polls show buyers and builders are both warming up to the idea of environmentally friendly construction.

Here’s the bottom line: There is major change afoot in America’s homebuilding industry. And it’s all about building in ways that are smarter, more efficient and better for the environment—and for homeowners’ pocketbooks.

A sure sign that green building is catching on within the industry is the fact that so many major showhomes are now going green. Many of the forward-thinking ideas exhibited in showhomes eventually become mainstream.

The New American Home program, which produces the official showhome for the International Builders’ Show each year, has been building green for several years now. Last year’s New American Home, built in downtown Orlando, sported a roof topped with vegetation among its green features.

Construction industry professionals from Tampa Bay and all over the world attend the annual event, which this year is slated for February 13-16. A highlight of the show will be the debut of the Green Builder Vision House in Orlando" target="_blank">Lake County. The project is the latest in a series of sustainable homes produced by Green Builder Media, publisher of Green Builder Magazine.

The 5,440-square-foot home was designed and built to stand up to hurricanes, reduce energy usage and conserve water. The hipped roof and the non-vented attic, for example, make the home less vulnerable to strong winds and wind-driven rain.

To cut down on solar heat gain, the home has fewer windows on the east and west sides and features large overhangs with light trim. Clerestory windows and six skylights allow for plenty of daylight, which means homeowners will need electric light less often.

Water-efficient bath fixtures and appliances, a rainwater collection system and an aerobic wastewater treatment system will conserve and manage water used inside the house and outside for irrigation.

The Vision House, which sits along the shores of Lake Apopka, also has incorporated environmental sensitivity into its landscaping plan. Invasive vegetation near the lake was replaced with plantings that will serve as a habitat for wildlife.

Swales, rain gardens and other landscape features were planned to soak up rainwater and manage storm water runoff while the pool will use solar heating and a salt chlorine sanitation system.

The "glamorously green" home, built by Westmont Green Homes in Winter Garden, is incorporating far too many other green concepts and products to describe in this column. But you can get more information by checking the Web site, www.greenbuildermag.com.

Or, you can tour the home during the Orlando" target="_blank">Lake County Parade of Homes, set for February 23 through March 2. It’s worth the hour-long drive to see how far green building technology has come—and to get a glimpse of the future.