The home's north/south orientation, combined with the careful selection and placement of landscape elements, contributes mightily to this home's energy efficiency, says Jennifer Languell, of ConstuctGreen, but it does so in a way that is hardly noticeable.
"Major living spaces are concentrated on the north side of the home where the hot afternoon sun will not be a problem," says Languell. "The areas of the home where people spend less time, including the garage, main entry, hallways and guest rooms, face south, east and west. This exposes a lot less of the living area -- and glass -- to the sun."
On areas that must be subjected to solar gain, Languell recommends "softscaping," or the use of landscaping elements such as trees and shrubs, to create natural shade. Plants and trees were selected for their drought-tolerance as much as for their appearance.
"In this way," she says, "we can have the landscaping work with the house design itself to provide optimal energy efficiency."
Creating a landscape plan for this home presented landscape architect Koby Kirwin with a challenge, he says. Although the use of native Florida plantings would provide the most efficiency in terms of drought-tolerance and care, they really did not provide enough of a "wow" factor for key areas, such as the entry and pool terrace. "People who relocate to Florida are not always in love with the look of native Florida plants."
"We designed the plan for this home to reflect what I call 'on-stage' and 'off-stage' landscaping," Kirwin says. "In areas where the views were not overly emphasized, we took a more conservative approach using conventional Florida vegetation."
High-impact, but high-maintenance plants, such as statuesque palms, were reserved for creating drama at the entry and around the pool terrace, he says.
Related Stories
Custom Builder
Floodproof on a Floodplain
An impressive addition to the IDEA Home series, the NEWLOOK Experience Home is a master class in engineering and creative design, with builder Michael Freiburger out-thinking an exceptionally tricky lot
Custom Builder
3 Questions Answered About Reliable Energy in Home Construction
Energy expert Bryan Cordill makes a case for why and how propane is an answer to growing concerns about reliability and resilience in home construction
Business
Custom Builder to Talk Color Design with Becki Owens at IBS
At this year's IBS, renowned designer Becki Owens will sit down with host James McClister, editor of Custom Builder, to discuss a variety of topics from basic color play in design to the Allura Spectrum palette, a collection of Sherwin-Williams colors curated for the benefit of pros
Business
PERC Highlights Sustainability and Efficiency at IBS with 'Clean Build Conversations'
Hear from industry standouts Matt Blashaw and Anthony Carrino at this hour-long Show Village event
Custom Builder
Telling a Story That Preserves the Past
Custom builder and historic restoration and preservation expert Brent Hull walks us through the careful details of his Pennsylvania Farmhouse project
Business
Defining Outdoor Living in 2024
Residential experts weigh in on outdoor living trends in new report
Construction
How to Air Seal the Garage
A poorly sealed wall or ceiling between the garage and the main house can let harmful fumes into the living space
Business
Taking Advantage of Incentives Through Weatherization
Industry insider Kristen Lewis walks us through the basics and benefits of weatherization
Custom Builder
2023: A Year of Case Studies
A look back at the custom homes and craftsman details we spotlighted last year
Customer Service
A Smart Home Built Smart
Custom builder August Homes blends efficient, high-tech home automation systems with high-performance, sustainable building strategies