Published by Green by Design under Green Building, LEED

Simple Structure and Selective Materials Create Functional and Attractive Green Home

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When Darren Brinkley, owner of REAL building, created the miniature model of the concept home he wanted to build, his focus was not entirely on building a green structure.

“I wanted to build smart, not just green” Brinkley said.

Yet, the home he created in St. Petersburg, Fla., recently received Florida’s first gold-level certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System for homes. While more than 200 projects have been certified by LEED for homes, projects like Brinkley’s demonstrate that sustainable structures can provide multiple efficiencies, increased safety, and an improved quality of life for the homeowners.

Green Features Work Together for Greater Good

The intelligence of Brinkley’s design literally begins from the ground up. The original walls and terrazzo floor of a 744-square-foot home that previously stood on his building site now serve as the walls and floor of an oversized two-car garage. To minimize the risk of flooding, the new 2,000-square-foot four-bedroom, three-bathroom home rests on top of the garage.

Although fiber cement was originally considered for the home’s exterior, Brinkley selected insulated vinyl siding and vinyl soffit after weighing the benefits of both options. Working with C.W. “Cookie” Brinkman and ASI Building products, the builder identified various benefits in the vinyl product that could affect the home’s sustainability in the present and future.

“The Alcoa Home Exteriors Structure EPS insulated siding we used has a wind load of up to 190 mph wind speeds and stands up well in a storm, which is important in our region” Brinkley said. “Different aspects of vinyl siding’s weight and transport makes its carbon footprint a lot lower. Also, it is low maintenance you can hose this down and don’t have to paint it every few years like you would other products.”

The insulated vinyl siding contributed to the LEED points the project earned for construction materials, due to its transportation efficiencies, the lack of on-site finishing, such as painting or staining, and its insulation properties, which contribute to the home’s energy efficiency.

Brinkley also appreciates the long life of the insulated vinyl siding, which is backed by a lifetime warranty, and its potential for recycling.

The home’s exterior also includes a 1,000-gallon rainwater cistern used to irrigate the landscaping, and a backyard pond, fed by dehydrator runoff, that attracts birds and wildlife. An outdoor living space overlooking the backyard features soy foam between the soffit and roof. Brinkley says the design keeps the outdoor space cool and useable even in the hottest Florida months due to heat absorption by the foam.

For more info go to www.alcoahomeexteriors.com