Thursday, May 12, 2011

Going Greener With Florida Green Homes

By Lisa Kemp


The message about being more green by recycling more and using alternative energy like solar energy and bio-fuel is one that has reached most people around the world. House construction has also been turned greener such as with Florida green homes.

Environmentally friendly houses also offer a number of other advantages. Homes are made to be energy efficient and the other is that they are hurricane resistant. Another great advantage that would make you consider going for a green home even if you were not keen on it is the big savings you can make.

Going for an environmentally friendly home can save you between $30,000 to $40,000 compared to constructing a home the conventional way. These homes can be designed and build to suit any budget. If you own your own lot, you can have a green home starting as $89,900.

The savings will continue to rise when it comes to running and maintain your home. As much as 70 percent will be saved on energy and utility bills. You will even save on lawn maintenance, landscaping and water bills. An environmental friendly home in Florida will make savings of about $300 every month on all these expenses. That adds up to $3,600 every year and $72,000 in twenty years.

Even insurance rates are lower if you opt for an environmentally friendly house. This is because of the way the houses are reinforced to deal with natural disasters like storms and hurricanes which means there is a lower risk of their getting damaged. The ICF wall construction method armors such a home against hurricane winds moving at the speed of 200 miles per hour.

Such a home also means a more pure environment in which to raise your family. There are less chances of catching diseases because organisms that cause them are next to none; pollutants, spores, dust and allergens are hardly found in green houses. Termites and mold will also hardly be in these houses. Health care costs are thus also lowered.

In selecting these homes, there are some precautions to take to ensure your home is really an environmentally friendly one. Ensure that the materials have certification that they are truly environmentally friendly; the carpet cabinets, flooring, the paint which should be zero VOC paint and all the other materials and methods that will be used. Certification will be done by bodies like Florida Yards, Neighborhoods Programs, EPA Indoor Air Quality, Water Star, FPL BuildSmart and Energy Start. There is also premier certification in form of Gold and Platinum certificates issued by the Florida Building Coalition which will in fact supervise construction.

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