Tech House Meets Green Standards

Vision Homes, Sarasota, Fla., teamed up with the Home Builders Association of Sarasota County to built its futuristic "Tech House," which has been certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) to educate the public on the benefits of green building to ones health and overall lifestyle.

Both the HBA of Sarasota County and Vision Homes hope to not only educate the public on the benefits of green building, but also to address concerns for safety and structural integrity by creating this house filled with new and advanced technologies in the home building industry.

This tech house achieves its green building status by including various features, such as block walls injected with expanding foam, which raises the exterior walls' R-factor to resist heat and cold weather. All windows in the house are impact resistant, double-pane insulated with low-emissivity (Low-e) ratings to reduce the load on air and heating systems. Two air-conditioning systems were installed, one on each floor, with 20 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) compared to the current 12 SEER average.

Indoor air quality filtration systems control everything from microscopic dust mites and mold spores to infectious bacteria and viruses. Closed-cell foam insulation throughout the attic provides the house with a 30-degree average temperature reduction. Insulated hot water pressure lines under the foundation increase heat efficiency and lower both water and electrical costs while a re-circulating hot water pump transfers hot water within seconds anywhere in the house.

On the exterior, the use of water-wise landscaping with Florida-friendly plants provide efficient irrigation to enhance the property while using a fraction of the water normally required in conventional landscaping. For the pool area, cutting-edge pool features include a self-cleaning technology.

The Tech House opened to the public among the Parade of Homes in Sarasota, Fla. in February. A portion of the profits will be designated for local charities upon sale.