Venice, FL, Apr. 22--WCI Communities, Inc. will celebrate Earth Day today with the unveiling of Casa Verde, its second green demonstration model, now Florida's greenest home, and the first production model green home on Florida's west coast.
One look inside WCI's new green model home, Casa Verde (Spanish for green home) can convince the most sophisticated consumer that green homes have come a long way.
A 3,000 square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath home located at the Venetian Golf & River Club in Venice, Florida, Casa Verde is a stylish, contemporary model home incorporating more than 100 green features for buyers to see how easy it is to have a healthier home, lower energy costs, and help save the planet all at the same time.
Building on the success of WCI's first green model, the Geni G in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Casa Verde with 325 points, aspired to become the highest scoring green home in Florida using the Florida Green Building Coalition's Green Home Standards. These guidelines incorporate green design, technology and construction into the overall development of a home and yard, resulting in a comfortable and healthy home to live in, while reducing the impact on our environment and its limited resources. Prior to Casa Verde receiving certification, the Geni G held the ranking with 317 points.
"At WCI, we believe it's our responsibility to constantly innovate within our industry and set the pace for homebuilders to build environmentally sensitive homes and sustainable communities," said Al Hoffman, Jr., WCI's chief executive officer. "Research tells us consumers want healthier homes and that they are willing to do their part to help the environment. We need to provide homes and communities that will meet that market demand. It's the right thing for our business, our industry, homeowners and our planet."
As a demonstration green model home, Casa Verde incorporates green principles throughout the home and yard with a focus on:
--Energy Efficiency: By reducing energy consumption and providing monthly cost savings through sealing and thoroughly insulating the home; utilizing a higher efficiency heating and cooling system; and
installing energy efficient windows.
--Water Efficiency and Quality: By reducing water consumption and improving water quality
through the use of water-conserving appliances; low-flow fixtures; filtering water; and using native drought-tolerant
vegetation and water-conserving irrigation systems.
--Indoor Environmental Quality: Providing a healthier home environment through high-efficiency air filtration (HEPA system); maintaining appropriate indoor humidity levels; and selecting healthy and natural materials for flooring, fixtures and furniture.
--Site and Landscaping: By reducing landscape maintenance; pesticide use; home energy use; and planting native vegetation.
--Material Selection: Conserving natural resources and improving home durability and
the indoor environment through the use of resource-efficient materials and recycled and recyclable materials.
--Passive Design: By reducing the dependence on mechanical cooling equipment and improving the quality of the indoor environment by installing natural lighting like solar tubes and insuring proper ventilation throughout the home.
--Construction process: Conserving materials; reducing waste; and recycling
construction debris.
According to a recent survey conducted by WCI and the Florida Energy Extension Service at the University of Florida, more than 75% of the respondents said they would pay more for a green product over a similar product. Forty-one percent said they would spend up to 10% more, and 11% said they would pay up to 20% more for features such as water- and energy-saving appliances.
The survey also found that 87% of consumers said they'd pay more for green home features if they recouped their expenses within five years, for example, with lower electric bills.
The home features bamboo, cork and linoleum and both wool and recycled PET carpets.
