On Friday, February 19, 2010, 10:00 a.m., we will celebrate a Platinum milestone in the Liberty City community – the completion of the second, affordable “Green” home at 1288 NW 55th Street in Liberty City. This Emerald event is made possible with a land and financial subsidy from the City of Miami, a Green Mortgage from the HFA of Miami-Dade County and Construction Financing from Northern Trust Bank and MDAHFI. 

MDAHFI Chairman, Milton Wallace, praised the Emerald project as “a shining example of the kind of development that should be supported and duplicated all over Miami-Dade County.” He was ecstatic saying, “The power of partnership really works when government and private sector forces have the same goals.”

Minority builder Ariovistus (Ario) Lundy of Palmetto Homes of Miami, Inc., who also completed the first affordable “green” home, in the City of Miami, built this Gem of a home while adhering to strict benchmarks established by the nationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ from the U.S. Green Building Council, a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. The developer partnered with youth from Miami Partnership for Action in Communities Task Force (MPACT) for at-risk teens and former gang members, to provide them with “green jobs”.  The youth received on the job training while working alongside construction professionals.

In order to be LEED-certified a home must meet minimum criteria under a point system, with credit given for specific energy-efficient features. The home at 1288 NW 55th Street is expected to receive Platinum LEED Certification, the highest level available.
Features:

Electrical Savings
Solar Light Tubes
*Solar Panels (Net Metering)
Energy Star Appliances & Lights
White Tile Sun Reflection Roof
Impact Windows
Light Sensors throughout the home

Health & Recycling
Non-Volatile Organic Compound Paint (V.O.C)
Recycled Counter Tops
R-22 Insulated Concrete Walls
Pervious Pavers
Spray Foam Insulation

Water Savings
Rain Water Collection System
Tank-less Water Heater
Water-Saving dual flush toilets
Friendly Yard (FYN)

The solar panels will convert energy from the sunlight into electricity which will offset the energy that would normally come from FPL (Net Metering).  *The Net Metering program allows the customer to generate their own electricity, with the excess electricity flowing back into the FPL Grid.   

Additionally, the home is also expected to receive certification as a Florida Friendly Yard from the Florida Friendly Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) Program. FYN provides knowledge on how to create attractive, healthy, low-maintenance landscapes. 

Background
Eco-friendly building practices and standards have demonstrated the ability to save homeowners and renters from 25%-65% in utility costs every month. Sustainable building is the practice of: increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water and materials. It reduces the building’s impact on human health and the environment through improved construction, operation, maintenance, and waste removal. If you’re a developer/builder interested in “green” building initiatives, please contact the Housing Finance Authority at 305-594-2518. For additional information on the LEED Green Building Rating System, please visit http://www.usgbc.org.

WHO: -  Mayor Tomas Regalado, City of Miami
- Don L. Horn, Chairman, Housing Finance Authority of Miami-Dade County
- Milton Wallace, Chairman, Miami Dade Affordable Housing Foundation Inc.
- Ariovistus Lundy of Palmetto Homes of Miami, Inc.
- Ralph & Seema Battle family

WHAT:  Second affordable, green home in South Florida and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event followed by a tour of the residence alongside its new owners. 
 
WHEN:  Friday, February 19, 2010, 10:00 a.m. 

WHERE:   1288 NW 55th Street