When most people think about custom luxury home construction in the Naples, Florida, area, few might believe that a general contractor can build such extravagant houses to be eco-friendly. However, just because someone can afford a pricey custom luxury home doesn’t mean they don’t care about the environment. In fact, many recently built luxury homes in the area incorporate numerous eco-friendly features, as growing numbers of homeowners insist on making their home environments as green as possible.
The custom luxury home builders of Carlson Harris General Contractors have witnessed a significant increase in their Naples-area clients’ desire for eco-friendly home features over the past two decades. As such, we’ve become highly adept at helping our clients choose green options to utilize in their home builds and at building eco-friendly luxury homes. Here, then, are five ways you can help make your custom luxury home build or renovations in Naples greener.
1. FOCUS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Energy efficiency is a great place to start when planning the construction or renovation of your custom luxury home, and there are ways to make your home generate renewable energy. Start with energy efficiency basics by going heavy on the insulation and choosing insulated doors and double-pane, low-emissivity windows, which help reduce heat intrusion and keep cooling costs down. Your HVAC system and all appliances should be Energy Star certified, and energy-efficient LED lighting offers the lowest energy costs per lumen.
If you truly want to amp up your energy efficiency game, generate your own by installing solar panels. With abundant sunshine, solar power is a highly effective renewable energy source in Naples, and depending on the scope of panels you install, solar power can do everything from heating your water to helping meet your other electricity needs off the grid. In a related vein, consider installing a geothermal heating and cooling system, one of the most efficient systems a Florida home can have.
2. CONSTRUCT YOUR HOME WITH SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
When planning your custom luxury Naples home, inform your contractor that you want the construction to incorporate as many sustainable materials as possible. Depending on specs, much of your home can probably be constructed with recycled or reclaimed materials like reclaimed wood, recycled steel, and composite decking. You can insulate your home with natural cellulite or recycled denim, both with R-value ratings comparable to fiberglass. Fast-growing bamboo has emerged as a popular renewable material for flooring. Not only is bamboo durable but the flooring is available in many styles that are similar to genuine hardwood floors.
3. MAXIMIZE NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION
You can build your custom luxury home in Naples with an eye toward taking advantage of natural light and ventilation. Start with passive design principles that will orient the house to maximize the natural sunlight for lighting and warmth during our cooler months. Likewise, strategically placed windows, skylights, and solar tubes help reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day.
To account for the hot temperature months, design the home with roof overhangs, pergolas, and awnings to block direct sunlight and mitigate the added solar heat. Also, take advantage of airflow circulation provided by energy-efficient ceiling fans, which help reduce your dependence on air conditioning.
4. GO EASY ON THE WATER
With ever-increasing demand in Naples and throughout Florida, water conservation plays a vital role in creating a green home. For the ultimate in water conservation, you can install a rainwater harvesting system for your home that collects and uses rainwater for irrigation, and some greywater uses. Speaking of irrigation, when planning the home’s landscaping, consider planting drought-resistant native Florida plants to cut down the need for watering.
Naturally, your plumbing fixtures should use low-flow features that conserve water without sacrificing performance. And you can save on water-related energy by installing a tankless water heater that provides on-demand hot water rather than the constant heating required by a traditional water heater.
5. MAKE YOUR CUSTOM LUXURY HOME SMART
There are smart technologies for everything these days, including your home. By controlling your lighting, HVAC, and irrigation systems with smart home technologies, you can better manage your energy and water use in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner. Install smart outlets or use smart power strips, which automatically turn off devices when not being used, reducing phantom energy drain. You can also install a home energy monitor, which tracks energy usage so that you can identify which home components are energy hogs and determine measures to reduce their energy usage.
ASK CARLSON HARRIS ABOUT GREEN CUSTOM HOME BUILDING IN NAPLES
If you’d like to learn more about eco-friendly custom luxury home building in Naples, we’d be glad to discuss your project with you. With a decades-long stellar reputation for building beautiful homes and outstanding renovation projects in Southwest Florida, contact Carlson Harris General Contractors today at 239-352-2460.
