Florida's First Zero-Energy, LEED Platinum Certified Home Unveiled in Panama City

March 27th, 2008

Last week a StalwartBuilt zero energy home in Panama City, Fla. earned the definitive credential in the green building industry -- a Platinum score from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Homes rating system, making it the first single family residence in Florida and only one of a few in the nation to earn this prestigious certification.
It was also the first LEED Platinum certified home in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.

The nonprofit council uses a stringent, national, third party certification system for green homes. Homes certified using LEED must complete a rigorous on site inspection to verify performance in energy efficiency, water conservation, non-toxic materials, and other features. StalwartBuilt Homes constructed the certified and licensed home in Callaway Corners, a new single-family detached workforce housing development in Panama City.

"The U.S. Green Building Council is proud to help celebrate StalwartBuilt"s commitment to greener living," said Michelle Moore, senior vice president of policy and market development, U.S. Green Building Council. "Their leadership — demonstrated at 321 Brooke Court in Panama City, is at the national forefront of quality; and their example can help us all to live better by reducing our environment footprint, cutting our utility bills, and coming home to a healthier place to live."

The payback of a LEED home includes economic benefits such as lower energy and water bills; environmental benefits like reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and health benefits such as reduced exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. Also, LEED homes fit into a family"s budget, as the net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.

Features of the StalwartBuilt home include solar panels providing energy, a "desuperheater" providing free hot water, geothermal unit for heating and air, spray foam insulation in the attic and under the house for a perfectly sealed "building envelope", high-tech air filtration system, low-E windows, sustainable bamboo flooring, Energy Star rated GE appliances, and low VOC paint.

"By meriting LEED Platinum certification for the zero-energy home, we are having an immediate, measurable impact on energy use and CO2 emissions--not to mention providing the residents with a healthy, comfortable home. In achieving LEED Platinum certification StalwartBuilt is sending a powerful message to the marketplace, increasing dialogue and helping accelerate the adoption of green homebuilding nationwide," said Julius Poston, president and founder of StalwartBuilt Homes.

StalwartBuilt is currently involved in 18 planned developments in various areas of the Southeast. StalwartBuilt Homes is a Panama City-based building science technology company offering high quality, energy-efficient systems-built homes to developers and builders that are licensed and trained to provide consumers a true high performance home. Construction uses innovative methods, superior materials, incredible efficiency, and virtually no wasted materials.
For more information, contact StalwartBuilt Homes at (850) 392-0292.

About USGBC

The U.S. Green Building Council is a nonprofit membership organization whose vision is a sustainable built environment within a generation. Its membership includes corporations, builders, universities, government agencies, and other nonprofit organizations. Since UGSBC's founding in 1993, the Council has grown to more than 14,500 member companies and organizations, a comprehensive family of LEED® green building rating systems, an expansive educational offering, the industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org), and a network of 72 local chapters, affiliates, and organizing groups. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.