Energy Efficient Building
Insulated Concrete Walls
The walls look like standard block walls, but they are not. They are insulated concrete forms, a much more efficient method of building that is stronger, quieter and more energy-efficient. So, what are insulated concrete forms (ICFs)? They are stay-in-place concrete forms that offer many structural, economical and environmental benefits. ICFs allow you to build .. read more
Jul
Air Conditioning and Heating
Under the ground in Central Florida are miles and miles of caverns filled with cool water. The temperature is 72 degrees year-round. It’s called the aquifer. For decades, Florida has treated this underground lake as a steady stream of water, unfortunately pulling more water than is seeping back into the aquifer. But there are ways .. read more
Jul
Brac Grey Water Recycling
Did you know that 65 percent of the water usage in your house comes from the bathroom? That’s right, approximately 30 percent of the water usage in the home comes from flushing the toilet, and 35 percent comes from using sinks, and taking showers and baths. Another 20 percent comes from doing your laundry (although .. read more
Jul
Native Plants
We’re blessed to live in Florida. There’s a plethora of native plants to choose from that are both beautiful and easy to take care of. There’s no sense in using imported plants when you can easily pick from hundreds of plants that are native to the Central Florida area. But why choose native plants? The .. read more
Jul
Insulated Attic Area
There’s probably not a more inefficient area in the house than the attic. It’s hot, it has A/C ducts, which are prone to leak, and it attracts moisture. We at Formosa Gardens make sure attics are not sources of energy inefficiency in our homes. We use Icynene Insulation, a leader in energy-efficient insulation, in our .. read more
Jul
Solar Hot Water Heater for House
Just when you thought you had heard every way to use the beautiful Florida sunshine, Formosa Gardens has one more for you: solar hot water heaters. By capturing sunlight, we are able to provide hot water at virtually no cost. So, how does it work? Well, first the heat goes into an insulated hot water .. read more
Jul
Solar-Heated Pool
When you look at the economics of a solar-heated pool, it’s surprising that anyone would install a traditional pool heating system. After all, according to the Florida Solar Energy Center, the owner of a typical-sized solar-heated pool would save on fuel costs about as much as the cost of the heating system in a little over three years. That’s right, .. read more
Jul
Reflective Roofs
It’s a concept most people understand, especially those who’ve gotten into a black car in Florida during the summer. Dark colors absorb the sun’s heat and make the interior hotter. Light colors reflect the heat and make the interior cooler. However, if you look at most of the houses in Florida – where summer temperatures average .. read more
Jul
Low E-Thermo Pane Insulated Windows
Some of the most energy-inefficient parts of a typical house are its windows. After all, they are a clear hole to allow the sun’s heating to enter the house. When that happens, all the cooling systems in a house must work harder. At Formosa Gardens Homes, we’ve installed the most energy-efficient windows on the market, .. read more
Jul
Superior Pool Solar Heating
The solar panels for the swimming pool here at Formosa Gardens Homes are a little different from your average solar panels. Not only do they lack the 30-degree tilt that the solar photovoltaic or solar hot water panels that are also on the roof have, but they were installed upside down. Why? It was deliberate. The .. read more
Jul
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