Renewable Resources
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
The Forest Stewardship Council
In just about any home, you can find plenty of wood touches. The cabinets, the flooring, decorative touches – each is made out of wood. The question for home buyers is, How was the wood obtained? Was it a product of the destruction of tropical rain forests? Were trees planted after the wood was processed? You .. 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
Comment