Quick Links for Florida Home Buyers & Builders

Over the past three decades, FSEC has conducted residential energy use research in Florida's hot humid climate. This list is quick links for Florida home buyers and builders which will take you to some of our most requested materials.

Recommendations for High Performance Homes

This is a checklist of general recommendations for the construction of energy resource efficient homes in a hot/humid climate.

Profiles of high performance homes showcased at the International Builders Show
2011| 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

Over the past several years, our partners have teamed up with a multitude of product sponsors to manufacture show homes displayed at the International Builders Show. Click the above links for profiles that highlight the homes’ energy efficiency and green attributes.

LifeStyle Homes' First True Net Zero Energy Home - Melbourne, FL

LifeStyle Homes completed its first zero energy home in August 2010. Final inspection and testing of the home resulted in an impressive HERS Index of -6, exceeding the Builders Challenge level of performance.

High Performance Residential Retrofits - Florida and Alabama

In 2009, a Department of Energy Building America team led by the Florida Solar Energy Center began working with eight local government and non-profit partners to find costeffective
paths for improving the energy performance of existing homes in the hot humid climate.

G.W. Robinson Homes' First True Net Zero Energy Home - Gainesville, FL

In April 2010, G.W. Robinson Homes unveiled its first “zero-energy” home in the
Garison Way community. Final inspection and testing of the home resulted in an
impressive HERS Index of -3, exceeding the Builders Challenge level of performance.

Deep Energy Retrofit - Central Florida Prototype

In 2009, the Department of Energy Building America team led by the Florida Solar Energy Center began working with eight local government and non-profit partners in Florida and Alabama who received funding under HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to purchase, refurbish, and resell foreclosed affordable housing. The first Sarasota NSP home to meet the HERS Index 70 goal is a 1995 three-bedroom home located in North Port, Florida.

High Performance Builder Spotlight – LifeStyle Homes - Melbourne, FL

Construction on LifeStyle Homes’ first Building America Builders Challenge home was completed in 2009 with a HERS Index of 60, a standard met by fewer than one in every 1,000 new homes built in Florida since 2007. It was the first Builders Challenge home built in Brevard County, Florida.

Tommy Williams First True Net Zero Energy Home - Gainesville, FL (pdf 1.3MB)

This four pager includes ZEH Statistics, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Features, Indoor Air Quality & Noise Reduction Features, Systems Engineering by BAIHP.

Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat Affiliates

Building America has a long history of partnership with Habitat for Humanity International and Habitat affiliates across the country. Case Studies of Habitat affiliates provide insight to the on building higher performance affordable housing:

• South Sarasota Habitat for Humanity, South Sarasota County, FL
• Southeast Volusia Habitat for Humanity, New Smyrna Beach, FL
• Orlando Habitat for Humanity, Orlando, FL
• Indian River Habitat for Humanity, Indian River County, FL
• Habitat for Humanity in Austin, Austin, TX

40% Community Case Study – G.W. Robinson Builders (pdf 1.06MB)

G. W. Robinson Builders, Inc has built hundreds of high performance homes in partnership with BAIHP subcontractor Ken Fonorow of Florida H.E.R.O. 123 recently built homes had an average HERS Index of 65 – 35% better than code. This case study includes a discussion of improvements and cost effectiveness.

Gulf Coast High Performance Affordable Housing Demonstration Project

Affordable Homes rise to DOE’s Builders Challenge in Brownsville, Texas

Working with certified home energy rater Chris Carroll of Carroll’s Inspection Services, the Brownsville Affordable Homeownership Corporation (BAHC) has collaborated with the City of Brownsville, Texas on a community of 14 affordable houses that meet the U.S. DOE’s Builders Challenge. More about the Builders Challenge: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/

Return Air Pathway Study

Ideally buildings with forced air heating/cooling systems are pressure neutral. To overcome house pressure imbalances caused by door closure, a variety of passive return path strategies were studied including a product produced by BAIHP Industry Partner Tamarack that overcomes privacy issues associated with through-wall grills. Achievable air flows for jump ducts, through-wall grilles, sleeved through-wall grilles, and the Tamarack baffled through-wall grille are presented.

Florida International University's 2005 Solar Decathlon Entry

FSEC and BAIHP researchers provided assistance to FIU students and faculty for their 2005 Solar Decathlon entry. The house, named "Engawa" after the Japanese term that describes space that is both inside and outside, is on display at the Mall in Washington D.C. in the Solar Village.

Metal Roof Retrofit on a Hurricane Damaged Home

This home in Cocoa, Florida was damaged in the summer of 2004 by hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. A white metal roof was installed over the damaged shingles to reflect summer heat. Initial measured data show a 19% reduction in air conditioner energy use.

City of Orlando, Florida

The City of Orlando, through the office of Housing and Community Development in the Planning and Development Department, constructed an environmentally friendly demonstration home called the “Orlando House: Florida’s Future”, on an infill site within the city. The City requested FSEC assistance to assure the home met Building America goals and the Florida Green Home Designation Standards.

Cold Climate Case Study; High Efficiency North Dakota Twin Homes

The Eastern Dakota Housing Alliance has completed 8 of 20 planned multi-family and single-family dwellings on Selkirk Circle in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Four twin-home units were completed in March 2003 (Phase I) and four more identical units were completed in February 2004 (Phase II).

WCI Communities at Evergrene

BAIHP has partnered with WCI Communities, Inc. on the first in a series of prototype “green homes”. The home was built in WCI’s Evergrene Community, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida in August, 2003.

Pet House Project

BAIHP researchers assisted FSEC researchers in designing and building the K-9 Comfort Cottage, an entry in the Orlando Science Center Community Council's Second Annual Pet House Project, which won the award for "Most Scientifically Designed Pet House". The Pet Houses were on display at the Sun Trust Bank downtown Orlando and at the Orlando Science Center from October 24 -December 5, 2003. The K-9 Comfort Cottage will be permanently housed in the visitors center at the Florida Solar Energy Center.

Cambridge Homes at Baldwin Park

BAIHP worked with Cambridge Homes to create a demonstration model home in Baldwin Park that showcases both energy efficiency and indoor air quality.  The BA Showcase Model, as well as a standard model built to minimum Cambridge Homes specifications, have been instrumented and are being monitored in order to quantify the benefits of the advanced features of the showcase home.

Zero Energy Manufactured Home

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is holding tours of the Zero Energy Manufactured Home from September 6-15. BAIHP worked with BPA in the development of the Zero Energy Manufactured Home. This home is touted as the most energy efficient manufactured home built to HUD-Code in the United States. For more information about the Zero Energy Manufactured Home, see this BPA brochure (pdf file).

Six Moisture Home Case Studies

Six case studies were conducted to determine the causes and propose solutions for moisture problems found in HUD-Code homes in hot and humid climates. Picture to the left: Evidence of water inside the light fixture - cold interior temperatures coupled with long term negative pressures during a hot humid summer will fill the globe.

Making the DREAM Home a Reality

This award winning project is no experimental house. Any builder in America can follow the example set by BAIHP team member Fallman Design and Construction in Lake County, Florida.

Highly Efficient Central Florida Home

This home in Longwood, Florida near Orlando was recently completed with BAIHP design assistance. Using the systems approach, a package of features was used to produce an exceptionally energy efficient design at a reasonable cost.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Manufactured Homes

North Carolina A&T University (NCATU) has located two high visibility manufactured homes on its campus in Greensboro, NC. One of the homes is conventional and the other is expected to be 50% more energy efficient. Data monitoring began in December 2000.

Super Good Cents/Natural Choice Program

For the past decade, the Super Good Cents/Natural Choice voluntary program has transformed a large segment of manufactured housing built in the Pacific Northwest. BAIHP supports WSU participation in this outstanding program by partially funding the technical assistance activities.

Portable Classrooms

This project provides technical assistance to portable classroom manufacturers, school districts and related organizations interested in improving the quality of learning and energy efficiency of portable classrooms. Several portables at various sites in the Pacific Northwest are being monitored.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Manufactured Homes

In cooperation with York International, Manufactured Housing Division (now Stylecrest Sales) and Fleetwood Homes, BAIHP monitored two nearly identical, side-by-side manufactured homes in Bossier City, Louisiana, near Shreveport.

Palm Harbor Homes - 16 Factories in 8 States

PHH (www.palmharbor.com) is a leading manufacturer of HUD-code homes with 16 factories in 8 states producing more than 15,000 homes annually.

The Entry Level Homes - Orlando, FL

Three entry level homes were built in Orlando, FL. Each home demonstrated a different built technique. The homes were monitored for energy consumption and indoor air quality.

Health House ® 1997 - Orlando, FL

The Health House 1997 was built to demonstrate superior indoor air quality and energy efficiency.

Health House ® 1996 - New Orleans, LA

The New Orleans Health House was built to Demonstrate superior air quality and energy efficiency.