Category: Resources

    • Quick Pros & Cons of LEED Certification and Green Building in South Florida

      Green Certification in Subtropical climates, such as South Florida, has many pros and cons and making the decision to go green can be a difficult but fruitful one. The heat in the summer and the pounding sun throughout the year make air conditioning here a basic necessity. Power bills are generally much higher than elsewhere…

    • New Florida Building Code in Effect March 15, 2012

      http://rscompanies.com/Check out the recording called “2010 Building Code Questions and Answer Webinar held March 13, 2012 at:http://www.floridabuilding.org/cm/cm_hottopics.aspxSlide the audio progress bar over to minute 33:47 to hear the answer on the retrofit provision that affects windows. Ann Stanton, the energy technical adviser at the Florida Building Commission, explains the 30% rule. She said “energy code…

    • Habify opens in Coral Gables, Florida.

      “Evolve your Home” is the slogan for the new concept that opened its store/showroom location in Coral Gables. Proprietors Christopher Block and Buck Reilly have combined their experience in home energy auditing and passion for good design and quality materials that have one common denominator: they will make your home better in some way. That…

    • Geothermal Heat Pumps – Guest Contribution by Lorie Wampler

      Heat pumps function as a refrigerator in reverse, they use electric power to move heat from one place to one other instead of making heat directly. Therefore, they can be 2 to 3 times more power efficient than conventional electric heaters. A geothermal heat pump is a central home heating and/or cooling system that pumps…

    • 7 Xeriscaping Principles for South Florida

      MULCH: Mulch assists in holding water in the soil by restricting evaporation. Mulch reduces soil temperature by up to 10 degrees compared to bare soil. 18% of all US waste is yard waste! Get mulch from local sources and keep timings from your own yard.

    • The South Florida OUTDOOR kitchen

      The next best feature for the outdoor kitchen is a sink, preferable with some counter space adjacent to it to wash off prepped food for the BBQ and other items.