Can This Home Be Greened? A Florida Fixer-Upper Gets a Green Remodel

(Page 4 of 5)

May/June 2009
By Greg Hardwick 
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Cost: $2,200

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5. Water conservation, lake protection

The Dyers’ irrigation pump pulls water  from the lake, and Tim wants to minimize or eliminate this. The couple also wants to protect the lake from runoff contamination. 

Solutions: Tim and Phyllis should remove all invasive or exotic plants and replant with native species. Florida Waterstar offers a comprehensive, online list organized by location, sun exposure, soil and plant type. Because native plants have evolved to Florida’s climate, they survive with rainfall rather than irrigation, and are naturally pest-resistant.

Next, the Dyers should have an efficient irrigation system designed for their yard. Many systems overwater by many inches, meaning water ends up in the street, not on plants. A custom irrigation system uses minimal water in targeted locations. To protect the lake, Tim can plant a 3-foot buffer of native aquatic plants along the shoreline. Unfortunately, on many lakefront properties, sod extends to the waterline, eliminating any natural filter for silt/soil, pesticides and fertilizers.

Cost: Costs depend on plant selection. Water-efficient landscaping doesn’t cost more than regular landscaping. The irrigation system, assuming total replacement, should cost $2,500 to $3,000.

A too-big AC

The Dyers’ new air conditioner is at risk of becoming too big. As we improve the efficiency of the thermal envelope, we will also reduce the tonnage required to heat and cool the home. The house has a 5-ton unit now, which is big for an efficient 1,950-square-foot home. Additional efficiency improvements may actually start to cause problems inside the house and reduce any benefits associated with the new AC unit. In Florida, oversize units can create internal moisture problems because the system does not run long enough to remove indoor humidity. After the next phase of improvements, the Dyers should hire an AC technician to slow down the fan speed on the variable speed handler, which will help mitigate this problem.

Make an energy plan

Before beginning any improvements to your home, develop a comprehensive strategy or goal. Make sure smaller projects phased in over time work toward achieving the overall objective. Avoid implementing one item at a time based on existing conditions because you could short-circuit the benefits of one item (a new $10,000 AC system) with other improvements. 

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