Water conservation is a major focus area for Smart Home Pensacola. The home will feature WaterSense approved low-flow faucets and fixtures and high-performance, dual-flush toilets to help conserve water. Rain Water for Irrigation - The irrigation system for Smart Home Pensacola uses 100% captured rainwater. This guarantees that no public water will ever be used to water landscaping or vegetation on the Smart Home site. The rainwater is collected from roof run-off and stored in two 1000-gallon storage tanks for later use.
Photovoltaic Panels - At the Smart Home, there is an array of 36, 300 watt photovoltaic panels which creates a 10.8kW solar power station. The energy generated by the panels is connected to the public power grid and puts energy back onto the grid for use by the neighbors. It also reduces the total energy consumed by the Smart Home by about 100% resulting in a Net Zero Energy designation by the U.S. Department of Energy.
In addition, Smart House Pensacola will feature the Tesla PowerWall system to store energy for the home and to fuel the owner's Tesla Model S
Green Education - Smart House Pensacola is a resource for home owners and those in the building industry to learn about sustainable building techniques and the innovative products used in the home. This website is provided as a service, and public tours are available upon request.
Daylight and Views - Research has shown that providing daylight views to building occupants increases productivity. Anecdotal evidence suggests that having access to daylight views creates happier residents. In the Smart Home greater than 90% of locations inside the building have direct daylight views
Construction Waste Management - All waste generated at the site during construction is placed in a single bin for convenience. When the bin is collected, it is taken to a sorting facility where the waste is separated into disposables and recyclables. Using this process more than half of the total waste is being diverted from landfills. In addition, the existing family home on the site, will be carefully deconstructed and materials such as flooring, wood trim, and fireplaces will be reconditioned and recycled for use in the new home.
Smart Home Pensacola serves as an example of high-performance, sustainable design, and fortified construction. Using the latest state-of-the-art home automation systems and advanced building technologies, Smart Home Pensacola is an opportunity for building professionals, vendors, and manufacturers to unite around the common goal of building in a more sustainable way. The home is located in Pensacola, Florida on the shores of beautiful Pensacola Bay.
Given its coastal location, the home will feature storm-rated, Energy-Star windows and doors, and Structural Insulated Panels. The design team will incorporate Passive House and Universal Design principles, and will seek certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (or LEED for Homes), the U.S. Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home and Energy Star designation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program.