First LEED Gold-Certified Home in Florida Combines Sustainable Resources with Smart...

First LEED Gold-Certified Home in Florida Combines Sustainable Resources with Smart Design

Simple Structure and Selective Materials Create Functional and
Attractive Green Home
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--(Business Wire)--
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(TM) 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(R) 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.

Adding Style to Simplicity

The simple box design of Brinkley's home contributes to its
sustainability by promoting good airflow and efficient use of space.
To add character and visual interest to the design, architectural
features were added that would require minimal maintenance. For
example, the arched ceiling over the back porch features
low-maintenance Mastic/Alcoa Home Exteriors vinyl soffit that provides
the clean, classic look of bead soffit for an impressive visual
affect.

Additional green features incorporated in the home's interior
include bamboo flooring, low- or no-VOC paints and finishes, and a
geothermal heating and air conditioning system. The efficiency created
by the home's innovative design virtually eliminated the need for
solar panels. Even without relying on solar energy, Brinkley
anticipates the monthly utility bill will be around $75.

While Brinkley is excited about the current interest and
enthusiasm for sustainable building, he also recognizes a need for
more information sharing and consumer education.

"Education needs to happen," Brinkley said. "We need to create a
better understanding of what makes a structure sustainable. Homeowners
and builders need to know the right questions to ask and how to
identify solutions to create more efficient and intelligently designed
homes."

Learn more about REAL building and Structure EPS at
www.realbuilding.com and www.mastic.com.

Sidebar:
Insulated Vinyl Siding Combines Low Maintenance, Energy Efficiency

Insulated vinyl siding, such as the Mastic/Alcoa Home Exteriors
Structure(R) EPS product used on Gold LEED-certified home built by
Darren Brinkley, features a layer of expanded polystyrene foam
insulation fused behind the panel that improves both the energy
efficiency and durability of the siding. With an R-value of up to 4.0,
Structure EPS can help reduce home heating and cooling costs while
also providing the look, feel and stability of wood siding, noise
reduction and water resistance. Structure EPS was a 2008 recipient of
a Women's Day Remodeling & Makeovers magazine RM Award due to its
energy efficiency and virtually unlimited color selection. More
information about Structure EPS is available at
www.alcoahomeexteriors.com.

For Alcoa Home Exteriors
Becky Johnson, 816-255-1968
bjohnson@andersonfallon.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008