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University of Florida
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School of Natural Resources and Environment |
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Vol. 1 Issue 1
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Fall 2005 |
The Program for Resource Efficient Communities participated in the
design and development of Madera, a "green" community adjacent to the UF campus. Dr. Pierce Jones (left) and Dr. Stephen
Mulkey show an insulated concrete form, a technology that promotes energy efficiency and produces strengthened wall systems
capable of withstanding high winds.
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'Green' Building Program Offers Solutions for Development
By Patricia Casey
As the boom in residential construction alters Florida's environment and boosts the demand for energy and water, a new program at the University of Florida promotes managing natural resources in a more efficient way while maintaining the economic benefits of growth.
The Program for Resource Efficient Communities, sponsored by the School of Natural Resources and Environment, encourages resource-efficient development practices by working with builders, architects, and other professionals involved in the many phases of residential community development.
"Many new residential developments are master-planned communities with thousands of homes consuming large amounts of energy and raw materials," said Pierce Jones, director of the program. "These communities represent a major change in land use from agricultural and natural areas to urban or suburban. Developers buy large tracts of land, and their decisions can affect important ecological systems."
The program matches the knowledge of UF faculty with the needs of developers. Participating faculty have expertise in many disciplines, including environmental engineering, energy, water, wildlife, forestry, landscape architecture and building construction.
"We operate on the fundamental premise that maintaining a multi-disciplinary, collaborative team is the key to the program's success," Jones said.
The program works within the School of Natural Resources and Environment, which has the mission of leading initiatives to resolve environmental issues by supporting collaborations among UF faculty and external stakeholders.
"The Program for Resource Efficient Communities aligns well within our mission," said Stephen Mulkey, SNRE director of Research and Outreach/Extension. "We provide a way for the program to access county extension offices and UF faculty campus-wide to address the issue of growth in our state," he said. "The program has shown that we can meet the needs of development and do it in a sustainable way."
The Program for Resource Efficient Communities recently worked with developers of the Harmony, Fla. community. All 7,200 homes in Harmony will be built to meet or exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STARŪ standards. This means lower electric bills for each homeowner. The overall result is a reduction in the demand for power generation and the need to burn fossil fuels.
More than 7,000 acres of Harmony's total 11,000 acres exist as open space devoted to woods, wetlands, lakes, parks, and recreation available to residents. The golf course wraps around existing wetlands and was designed to preserve the diverse plant and animal life found there.
"Developers are beginning to realize they can offer open space as an amenity and build other amenities like golf courses to enhance the natural environment rather than degrade it," Jones said.
Some cities in Florida are providing additional incentives for builders to use "green" building methods. The city of Gainesville recently implemented a green building program to promote the voluntary use of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in design and construction. The city uses standards developed by the Florida Green Building Coalition and the U.S. Green Building Council. The Program for Resource Efficient Communities evaluates these certification standards for best design and management practices. Builders who follow the standards receive fast-track permitting and a 50 percent reduction in permitting fees.
Jones said the program also participated in the design and development of Madera, an 88-home community developed by GreenTrust, LLC on a wooded 44-acre site adjacent to the UF campus. The first home built in the Madera community took advantage of the Gainesville green building program and saved the homebuilder $650 in permit fees.
In addition to a savings on the electric bill, water-efficient fixtures and appliances conserve water. Durable and recyclable construction materials reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. Landscaping with native and drought-tolerant plants further reduces water consumption and the amount of turf, pesticides, and fertilizers needed, he said.
The Program for Resource Efficient Communities evaluates and promotes several other "green" certification programs and standards including ENERGY STARŪ and Audubon International's Signature Programs, a series of non-profit education and assistance programs to help landowners, managers, and developers follow sustainable practices. In addition to reviewing certification standards, the program creates and teaches continuing education courses that satisfy state of Florida licensure and professional association requirements.
"We want to show everyone from developers and homeowners to realtors and mortgage bankers that energy efficiency adds value to a home while helping to conserve our natural resources," Jones said. "We want to make people aware that alternative methods of design and construction are available. In the face of Florida's rapid growth, green building methods can help to preserve and even enhance our quality of life."
Web Resource
Program for Resource Efficient Communities
Contact
Dr. Pierce Jones
ez@energy.ufl.edu
Email us
with your comments, suggestions or questions.SNRE Research and Outreach/Extension Office, 1053 McCarty Hall D, PO Box 110230, Gainesville, FL 32611
Tel: (352) 392-7622 • Fax: (352) 846-2856