BCB Homes’ Montelena gets green light for efficiency

Designed by Stofft-Cooney Architects, the Montelena encompasses 5,287 square feet of living space and has a total area of 7,789 square feet. COURTESY PHOTO BCB Homes’ Montelena single-family home has earned a Green Home certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System and Florida Green Building Coalition.

The benefits of this green home include lower operating costs, a healthier interior environment, reduction of water usage and increased sustainability. Although the amount of money saved in a green home varies by personal usage, on average, those who live in a green home save money by consuming 40 percent less energy and 50 percent less water than in conventional homes.

Joe Smallwood, president of BCB Homes, understands the benefits of green living. Last spring, his private residence in Estuary became the first green home in all of Florida to be certified by the National Association of Home Builders and the Florida Green Building Coalition.

“The trend toward building green homes will continue to expand as more people discover the paybacks,” Mr. Smallwood says. “As builders, our responsibility to the environment demands that we continue to incorporate new and more resourceful building methods. We have the ability to construct homes that operate more efficiently and provide a healthier living environment, inside and out. That’s smart building.”

The Smallwood residence earned four 2009 Sand Dollars awards.

The completed Montelena model earned five 2009 Sand Dollars: Product Design of the Year for a single-family model home, Best Landscape Design, Best Outdoor Living Area, Best Pool Design and Best Kitchen.

The single-story, great room floor plan utilizes green building methods outside as well as inside. Adaptable native and drought-tolerant plants will make up approximately 50 percent of the landscaping, adding colorful beauty to the grounds but requiring less water, maintenance and fertilizers. The exterior of the home will be finished with ArcusStone, a fine aggregate plaster formula of crushed limestone, that can be colorized, textured and “cut” to emulate beautiful cut stone; it weathers well and requires less maintenance without paint.

Natural gas is used for the top-end Energy Star kitchen appliances and in the Wolf gas grill in the summer kitchen. It also provides the fuel for heating fireplaces, the fire urn, pool and spa.

Another green attribute of the Montelena is the saltwater pool. Saltwater is gentler for the eyes and skin than typical chlorine-treated pools.

Other behind-the-scene green efficiencies include a vapor-permeable polystyrene insulation that works to minimize the intrusion of outdoor pollen, allergens, pollution, heat and humidity, and an innovative hot water recirculation system that speeds hot water retrieval and helps conserve water. The interiors are maintained at a comfortable level by means of a fresh air dehumidification system.

The home will be also equipped with the Crestron home automation system and Lutron lighting system to streamline and simplify the usage of the technology in the home. With the touch of the keypad, Crestron programmable controls enable owners to customize temperature, audio/video, pool pumps, window shades, roll-down screens and more. The Lutron lighting system allows lights to come on or go off at designated times of the day.

The Montelena is available pre-construction in Estuary at Grey Oaks. For more information, call the Estuary Sales Center at 261-3148 or visit www.estuaryatgreyoaks. com. 