The Green Building Trend has swept the nation and now Panama City, Fl., known very well for hosting outrageous spring break parties, has unveiled its first zero-energy, LEED Platinum certified home. Receiving a Platinum score from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes rating system is no easy feat, and this single-family home is the first in all of Florida and only the second in the nation to earn this prestigious certification. In order to be deemed LEED certified, homes must pass a rigorous inspection that analyzes performance in energy efficiency, water conservation, non-toxic materials, and other environmental features. The LEED benefits are usually economical, such as lower energy and water bills, and health, like reduced exposure to mold, mildew and other toxins, as well as environmental, like reduced greenhouse gas emissions. This particular single-family home in Panama City was built by StalwartBuilt and includes features like solar panels to provide energy, a “desuperheater” providing free hot water, geothermal unit for heating and air, spray foam insulations in the attic and under the house for a perfectly sealed “building envelope,” high-tech air filtration system, low-E windows, sustainable bamboo flooring, Energy Star rated GE appliances and low VOC paint. Now this is a green built house if I’ve ever heard of one.
