A Perfect Mix of Earth Day and Green

As Yogi Berra likes to say, "It's déjà vu all over again." Nathan Cross, owner of NWC Construction and one of Central Florida's quintessential green builders, has completed his second green-certified home in the Orlando area -- and the second time he has taken a home ravaged by fire and turned it into a green showcase.

Almost a year to the date of finishing his first green home, Cross held an Open House yesterday to show off the first-ever Emerald-certified green home by the National Association of Home Builders and Platinum certified by the Florida Green Building Council. Both certifications are the highest attainable green levels of excellence offered by the respective organizations.

The three bedroom, two-and-a-half bath, 2,380 square-foot, two-story home in Windermere, Fla., is also Energy Star certified.

But you won't find any very obvious, visual green features here. Cross focused on "creating a tight envelope" with tilt-up pre-cast concrete walls from Superior Walls, spray foam insulation, and double-pane Low-E windows to conserve energy and keep out noise. He also added Energy Star appliances, compact fluorescent bulbs, Cambria countertops from ADP Surfaces, and fresh-air intake air conditioning. Cross says the green features are built into the home and may not be as apparent as perhaps rainwater collectors or roof gardens.

"It's not sexy green," notes Cross, "but real-world green." Indeed, the entire home is powered on only $100 per month.

The transformation took four months to complete. The home is entered in the Home Builders Association of Metro Orlando's Parade of Homes going on right now.