More and more of my clients are interested in building/buying green homes. As Vice President of Sales for Villa Homes of SW Florida this is something we are well aware of. For many years we have been building our homes following the Lee County Electric Good Cents Energy program.
Included in this program are the following improvements to the home:
Heating / Cooling Equipment
- A Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) is the method used to measure the efficiency of an air conditioning system.
- LCEC’s GCH program requires a 14 SEER or higher air conditioning system, which can save you $100’s per year.
- The higher the SEER, the lower the operating cost, which equals more savings!
- Air Conditioning is Florida households largest annual cost.
Efficiency
Programmable Thermostat
- Saves money by automatically adjusting the temperature setting while you are asleep or away.
- GCH requires the installation of a programmable thermostat.
- By raising the temperature setting from 78 degrees Fahrenheit to 83 degrees Fahrenheit while not at home, you will save a minimum of eight percent per degree in cooling costs.
- A programmable thermostat provides you with worry-free savings.
Alternate Water Heating System
- An HRU provides efficient water heating, which is one of the major uses of electricity in most households.
- GCH requires the installation of a Heat Recovery Unit (HRU)
- An HRU utilizes the wasted heat of the air conditioning system to heat domestic hot water.
- An HRU also improves the energy efficiency of an air conditioning system.
- For a family of four, who use their air conditioning for a period of nine months of the year, this can save $340 a year in water heating costs.
Insulation
- GCH requires R-30 insulation in the attic space and R-5 wall insulation (R-11 on wood framed walls).
- Insulation is designed to resist heat flow, so the home is protected from outdoor influences.
- The higher the R-Value, the better it allows the heating and air conditioning systems to maintain a comfortable indoor condition at a reasonable cost.
- Upgraded insulation can save you approximately $100 to $250 annually on cooling cost.
Attic Ventilation
- GCH requires that all attics must employ acceptable passive attic venting.
- "Passive" vents are designed to use wind pressure to produce lift, thus drawing air out of the attic.
Exterior Doors
- GCH requires all exterior doors be metal or fiberglass insulated (excluding sliding glass doors).
- Solid wood doors are permitted if protected by a minimum six foot overhang.
- Tight fitting gaskets are required on exterior doors.
Windows / Sliding Glass Doors
- GCH requires glass windows facing east, south and west with less than four feet of roof overhang protection to have tinted glass, reflective film, solar screen, awnings or the equivalent.
- Good quality tint or film can block up to 85 percent of the heat gain, without eliminating the desirable light that brings a bright look to home interiors.
- 26 percent of annual cooling load is caused by solar heat gain through windows.
Air Duct Sealant
- GCH requires mastic be applied to all duct seams and joints.
- Mastic is a thick latex paste, usually reinforced with chopped fiberglass that is applied in a thick coat over potential and existing leaks.
- If leaks occur in the duct work, you not only loose air conditioned air, but have outdoor air drawn into the home.
- Mastic is the most effective air duct sealant in Florida since condensation and humidity will not loosen mastic’s grip as it will with metal foil tape.
Infiltration Package
- GCH requires expandable foam or an approved caulking for all openings in and around:
- Walls
- Doors
- Top plates
- Windows
- Sliders
- An approved infiltration barrier is applied to all exterior walls.
- Stops cool air from going outside and outdoor air from being drawn in.
While there is a small initial upfront cost associated with these features they more than pay for themselves over the lifetime of the home. Additionally, at Villa Homes of SW Florida we have been researching additional features of green building construction to even further the energy efficiency of your home.
