Luxury Green Home to be LEED Certified

Dec. 22, 2009 - PRLog -- In today’s depressed home market, real estate professionals are looking for creative ways to stand out.  One homebuilder in Broward County’s Lighthouse Point neighborhood is blending what he believes is a dual trend in both green living and contemporary design into a new home being built as the first LEED-certified luxury, waterfront home in Lighthouse Point and Broward County.  The home is expected to save its owners as much as 50 percent in energy costs and is proof that design does not have to suffer in the quest for sustainability.
   “Today’s homebuyers are concerned about the environment and also want an alternative to the Mediterranean and Key West style homes that are so prevalent in South Florida,” said Andrew Zahn, LEED AP, with Zahn Development, a company that has been building high-end homes for more than 50 years.  “Buyers have been telling us for some time now that they want a one-story that’s not a ‘McMansion’.”
   A LEED home has to adhere to a strict point-based certification system that measures how well a structure performs as a green home and is administered by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org/leed/homes).  The Zahns also are seeking certification from the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Green Home Standard, a statewide program that addresses Florida climate-specific issues.
   The $2.5 million one-story waterfront Zahn home meets the strict green requirements despite ultra contemporary design features traditionally thought to generate higher energy costs.  The entry and living area has 20-foot ceilings, and 10-ft floor-to-ceiling glass doors line the entire back of the house to maximize the view of the deep water canal and 90-foot dock.  Yet, the energy savings will be achieved with a massive rooftop photovoltaic solar panel system requiring a meter that spins backwards when the system generates more power than is being used.  The glass sliders are designed to keep out the heat and save on air conditioning, which is produced by one of the highest efficiency units available on the market.  Dual flush toilets save water, as do two gas-powered tankless water heaters, which eliminate the need to store hot water. Standard 120-gallon tanks can account for as much as 40 percent of a household’s electric costs.     
   The builder also has far exceeded the required insulation throughout the home to save energy.  Environmentally-friendly spray-on foam covers the entire attic ceiling space, while all exterior concrete blocks are filled with injected foam insulation and a foil aluminum barrier.  Indoor air quality will be high as well thanks to low- VOC paints, sealants and adhesives used in all interior applications. Plus, Energy Star® appliances, native landscaping that requires less water and maintenance, and a chlorine-free 42-foot pool are other elements of the home that are required for a LEED certification.    
   Inspired by popular Miami designs, the Zahns have found a way to blend sustainable construction with such contemporary appointments as trim-less hi-hats and a/c vents, recessed aluminum baseboards and door frames, and “floating” bathroom fixtures that are attached to the wall instead of the floor.  Located on an oversized waterfront lot, the home also is a yachter’s dream, being only seven minutes from the Atlantic Ocean via the Hillsboro Inlet.
   According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), the market share of green-certified homes is expected to rise to 20 percent in 2010 from about 10 percent in 2009 and only 2 percent in 2006.   NAR’s green designation also is gaining popularity among real estate professionals who see this trend continuing and find the sustainability message a strong selling point in a down market.  In Florida, 200 Realtors® have earned the green designation and are looking for inventory.

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Based in Lighthouse Point, Fla., the Zahn homebuilding business was founded in 1958 by Robert Zahn. In 1967, his son, Roger Zahn, Sr., joined the business. Since then, Roger has built more than 2,500 units throughout Broward County.
The third generation of Zahns, Roger Zahn, Jr., joined the family business in 1992 and currently owns Zahn Luxury Homes, Inc. The younger Zahn son, Andrew, LEED AP, started Zahn Development to focus on more contemporary architecture and green features. Zahn Development builds high-quality, sustainable luxury homes, many on large waterfront lots.
For more information, visit www.zahndevelopment.com or call 954-667-9246.