Affordable housing in Bonita Springs isn't just about the initial price anymore. Sustainable homes are being built in east Bonita that will save low-income buyers money on operating costs over the life of the home as well as on their mortgage. The Bonita Springs Area Housing Development Corporation is partnering with Florida Gulf Coast University to build up to 39 "green" homes off Rosemary Drive.
The housing agency is supplying the funds and the university is giving direction on the green know-how. "A lot of affordable housing can be built cheap and won't last," said John Fitch, associate professor of Ecological Sciences at FGCU. "We're trying to make this affordable housing through the lifestyle of the house." When the total cost of owning and operating a home is considered, the purchase price makes up about 10 percent. The remaining 90 percent is spent on energy, repairs and maintenance costs, Fitch said. The university researched green materials and made recommendations to developer CH General Contractors.
The homes are built from kits and feature 4-inch thick, hardy-board panels on the outside walls and 6-inch think panels on the roof. The solid paneling offers much better insolation, decreasing cooling and heating costs, and also stand up much better to hurricane force winds. The houses are rated for 200-mph wind gusts. The material is also impervious to termites and ants. Metal sheets that cover the roof reflect sunlight. Solar tubes built into the roof allow sunlight through but not heat for natural lighting. Special windows filter the suns rays and are also rated for hurricane force winds. Instead of traditional wood frames that require cutting down trees, the homes have mostly metal frames that can be built from recycled material.
The homes cost about $35,000 more than the $110,000 a similar size, block construction home costs, said Diane Ledford, Executive director for the Bonita Springs Area Housing Development Corporation. But over time, the homeowner should recoup that money in operating costs, Fitch said. "If we can reduce energy costs by 50 percent, it will be tremendously advantageous, especially for families living in affordable housing," he said. The projected electric bills will average $50.
"Where are you going to get a 1,688-square-foot house that you can cool for that kind of money?" said Pete Sbarbori, with CH General Contractors. "Anywhere in the U.S., who can afford to fuel a house anymore." As more people become interested in building green, the cost of the specialized construction materials is becoming cheaper, Sbarbori said. "It's closing the gap faster than you think," he said. Sbarbori said he has seen more and more people in the high-end market move toward green housing.
In Pensacola, a developer is building a 600-home green community. Romina Sola, a senior majoring in environmental studies at FGCU, hopes to find a career in the sustainable housing industry. "I think it will continue to grow," Sola said.
Once the homes are built, FGCU students will research them to verify how well they work and what can be done better. "It's not easy to be green initially because people have a different mindset," Fitch said. "Doing a case study is helpful for others who will follow. FGCU also obtained a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to research indoor and outdoor temperatures and humidity at the homes and compare the findings to conventional homes.
So far, about 50 people have applied to purchase the affordable homes, Ledford said. The first homes should be complete by the spring. Next, Fitch and his students hope to consult Collier County on housing projects. "This sort of thing makes sense economically, socially and environmentally," Fitch said.
Source: NaplesNews.com