Green Home Building Consulting
Green home remodeling and green home building have long been our favorite areas of consulting expertise. In the 1980s, we were one of the first remodeling companies to promote and sell insulated glass windows and encourage homeowners to consider window glazing options, which allow passive heating and cooling solutions for Florida homes. During the 1970’s the owner of our company provided solar hot water heating solution for many homeowners throughout Tampa Bay.
Our company was one of the first companies in Florida and the US to be certified by Hebel to build with its insulated concrete block. Today, West Shore Construction encourages homeowners to explore the many green products and energy solutions available. These green home building technologies often pay for themselves in a short time. Furthermore, they allow an environment healthier for people and friendly for the environment. The following are some of the Green Home approaches we recommend in our role as your expert energy consultant.
Energy Saving Solar Lighting and LED Lighting
The selection of green lighting and appliances can help significantly lower electric costs. LED light has emerged as an environmentally friendly, energy-saving replacement for incandescent and fluorescent lighting.
In large homes and commercial builds, the use of LED lighting can slash energy costs. They can even end up paying for the upgrade many times over. Solar lighting is available in the form of solar outdoor lighting and solar landscape lighting.
Solar Hot Water Heaters
Water heaters that use solar energy in Florida should be included in every home’s energy savings plan. Today’s solar hot water heaters are incredibly efficient and durable. They will deliver free hot water to homeowners for years, easily paying for themselves. That goes even more so for solar pool heaters and solar hot water spa heaters. Trying to maintain hot water in a swimming pool, hot tub, or spa will cost a fortune. However, it doesn’t have to with a solar hot water heater. We can install throughout Tampa Bay, including Clearwater, St Pete, and Tampa.
Solar Panels Photovoltaic Electricity
Today, Solar Panels powered by photovoltaic cells provide a lot of energy. So much so that the generation of electricity is enough to make a home self-sufficient for its electrical needs. In some cases, enough electricity can be produced that the homeowner can sell the excess power back to their power company. The cost of photovoltaic cells and solar panels has consistently lowered. The cost has lowered enough that when combined with tax incentives and power company rebates. This green home building solution is now within reach of almost everyone. This solar energy solution for Floridians can make your home or business energy independent. Not to mention a sustainable design.
Low VOC Paints and Building Materials
Good Indoor air quality contributes to the health of the people living in a home or office. Paints and building materials release gases that may be harmful to the people breathing them. Low VOC paints and Zero VOC paints do not release the level of harmful volatile organic carbons found in traditional house paints. The materials get into your bloodstream faster (and more directly) if you breathe them. Compared to if you were to eat them. West Shore Construction wants homeowners to be aware and have a choice of green building products available, which will create a healthier environment within your home or business.
Energy Management, Green Home Building, & Remodeling Consulting
By thoughtful planning during the design phase of a green remodeling or green building project, the living space produced can be one that uses the site setting to passively heat and cool to lower energy use. The best choice of green home building materials can make a huge difference in the energy efficiency and comfort of the home or business. Window size and glazing combined with interior window treatments will repel unwanted solar radiation and allow natural wind patterns to provide passive cooling much of the year. Insulation, house wraps, and radiant barriers provide additional passive cooling and heating opportunities.
The proper use of plant materials, xeriscaping, and green landscaping can also provide passive cooling and cut down on water use. The use of Solar Panels, Solar hot water heaters, and solar pool heaters should be part of every green home design. All of these Green Homebuilding approaches lead to sustainable design for your home or business.
Environmental Benefits
So we know we’re benefiting the environment with green building, but how exactly? Well, materials used during green buildings are fantastic. Using geothermal pumps for water heaters reduce their carbon footprint by up to 70 percent. They will also use 50% less energy. That’s literally cutting the cost in half. What does all this actually do for the environment, though? When you burn fossil fuels, the carbon emissions clog up the ozone layer. In turn, the heat from the sun is trapped inside. So by using green materials and energy-efficient fixtures, you’re
- Reducing carbon emissions
- Conserving water
- Reducing waste
- Consuming less energy
Contact Us
If you have a green home building or green remodeling project in mind and would like to hire the best consultant for your project
in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, or St Pete, Florida, call us today:
727-488-8058 or 727-488-8182