High-end custom home builder Michael Lenahen, president and owner of Aurora Custom Homes in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., admits that before a motivated client approached him about building an ambitious green home, sustainable building wasn’t at the forefront of his mind. But he did grab hold of the opportunity presented to him with both hands. Now, after having received the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and establishing a green building division at Aurora, he’s in the process of building his company’s first comprehensively green home.
“I knew this was an idea that’s not going to go away,” he explains. “It’s tapping into the notion that most homeowners or consumers are interested in—energy efficiency, which translates into money savings—but also the more sensitive issues like taking care of the environment. Now that I have my CGP, I can at least begin talking the language and employing some of the things this owner wants in his home.”
The project in question is a 10,500-square-foot residence in Ponte Vedra Beach for Robert Hart, the founder of clean energy supplier Globeleq. Designed by Hart, who studied architecture, the house aims rather ambitiously for certification under the LEED for Homes system, the Green Built Homes of Florida program, the Energy Star for Homes program, and the NAHB’s National Green Building Standard. From the insulated concrete forms, energy-efficient systems and appliances, and low-VOC finishes and sealants to locally sourced materials, rainwater catchment for irrigation, and renewable energy systems, the house will reflect the environmentally friendly lifestyle of the owner and his wife.
Certainly, the home’s size puts it at a disadvantage for achieving the goals of sustainability, particularly under LEED for Homes. However, by finding solutions to the site and design constraints and going above and beyond wherever possible, Lenahen and Hart are making up for the house’s large footprint.
Northeast Florida’s green home building market is still in its fledgling stages, Lenahen notes. “I can’t say that Northeast Florida is a vibrant market, but some builders and architects have positioned themselves to help those clients who ask for green homes,” he says. What’s more, he believes that when the market rebounds and people once again start building new homes, they will search out pros with green building experience. In the meantime, he hopes to position his company at the forefront of the local green movement and join the community of designers and builders already embracing sustainability in their work.
