With most of Florida's Panhandle recovering from last year's hurricane Michael, the building codes in North Florida are under renewal scrutiny. All Florida residents need homes that can withstand the strongest storms, and there is a high demand for those homes to come equipped with environmentally sustainable features and building methods.
Continue to read to take a closer look at how the Forgotten Coast of Florida is going green.
What are Green Dwellings?
Homes that are built and known as "green dwellings" come with unique features in their construction. They are unique in that they are built from steel and concrete, and all are equipped with sustainable, renewable materials. For example, many homes use solar-powered hot water, and solar-powered electricity (with the optional battery), and if you are off the grid you are up and running after a hurricane in no time. This puts a whole new meaning into building to the highest hurricane standards. Exposure D is a standard that is used for wind flows directly over the surface of water, meaning houses can withstand 200 mph wind factors.
Will there be a High Demand for Green Dwellings?
Designs are specifically meant and made for the tropics—for hurricanes, moisture, mold, mildew, and bugs, as there is a need and high demand for preventative building. Many homes are under contract by certified LEED Platinum builders coming out with a prototype that has won Sustainable Florida's award for "Best Practice in Green Building."
How Can You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint from Your Home?
Many developers are keenly aware of the rising demand for resilient homes with extreme weather increasing with climate change, homes that can be friendlier to the environment at the same time. Think solar panels installed so tightly that high winds can't travel, beneath them, leading to clean power that can withstand a storm. Preserved wetlands and native vegetation can trap carbon in the ground to reduce flooding. A person's home is one of the biggest ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Are there Communities that are Already Sustainable?
Though not located in the Forgotten Coast of Florida, a sustainable community worth mentioning is Babcock Ranch, a sustainable, hurricane-resilient community in South Florida. This town is officially the first solar-powered in the U.S., generating 150 megawatts of electricity with 680,000 panels on 870 acres. Homes can better withstand hurricane winds as the roofs are strapped to a system that connects down to the foundation. Power lines are buried beneath the ground so they cannot be torn away during high-powered winds. It is very much a reality to complete whole communities that are sustainable, with Babcock Ranch posing as the poster child for this movement.
Interested in learning more about eco-friendly homes in the Forgotten Coast of Florida? From learning about green dwellings to how you can reduce your carbon footprint in a climate change-charged world leading to an increase in natural disasters, this article is a good start in a whole new chapter of construction.
Contact Your Forgotten Florida Coast Realtor Today.
