There is a very special green-certified home on the market in Miami – GaïaMa in Biscayne Park.
More than just a green home, GaïaMa integrates the very best smart house technology into a low-impact, sustainable, & healthy home. Modern open floor plan with high ceilings, lots of natural light, polished concrete floors in the living areas & warm wood (FSC-certified) in the bedrooms. Kitchen features high-efficiency appliances, built-in breakfast counter & a living wall. GaïaMa is certified LEED Platinum with low-e, impact resistant windows, solar-energy system, air & water filtration & so much more.
Designed and built by developer Urbaneco, GaïaMa achieved LEED Platinum BD+C: Homes (v2008) with 114.5 points in June 2015. Buildings can qualify for one of four levels of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification:
- Certified: 40–49 points
- Silver: 50-59 points
- Gold: 60-79 points
- Platinum: 80 points and above
GaïaMa is in the top 2% energy efficient homes in the country, and has a negative HERS score of -4. This means that, on average, GaïaMa produces more energy that it uses. How?
Freedom from the Electric Bill
To achieve its impressive Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score, GaïaMa starts with a cutting edge technology called Insulating Concrete Form (ICF). ICF is a system of interlocking modular units that are dry-stacked then filled with concrete. The resulting walls are energy efficient, more resistant to hurricanes and tornadoes than standard CBS construction, and fire resistant. ICF construction also improves indoor air quality and sound absorption.
The house also features low-E, double-paned, impact resistant exterior glass doors and windows throughout. “Low-E”, or low-emissivity, refers to a coating applied to the glass that minimizes “the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light that can pass through glass without compromising the amount of visible light that is transmitted.” In other words, the doors and windows of GaïaMa dramatically reduce the amount of heat coming into the house while allowing maximum sunlight, thus reducing energy use by A/C and interior lighting.
Then there is the net-metered photovoltaic (solar panel) system, which even includes a small battery storage pack as back-up. The solar energy system is connected to the the utility grid, sending excess electrical power to the utility company but also able to draw from FPL as needed. GaïaMa’s solar energy system is rated to provide over 90% of the electricity needed to run the home; and indeed routinely exceeds 100% resulting in the HERS rating of -4.
Electricity use is further reduced with very high efficiency appliances, including a 20 SEER Trane HVAC (A/C) system, LED lighting throughout, and Energy Star kitchen appliances.
The exceptional energy efficiency of GaïaMa is just a small part of the story. For more information about the edible landscaping, indoor air quality features, water management systems and everything else that makes GaïaMa such a healthy and sustainable home, visit GaiaMaMiami.com. To request a private tour of GaïaMa, click here to make an appointment with Melanie Dawn.
Melanie Dawn Molina Wood is a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate. She has earned her LEED Green Associate accreditation, the NAR GREEN designation, and an Eco-broker credential. She is also a proud member of the US Green Building Council – South Florida Chapter, and a member of the Sierra Club. For more information about sustainability in Miami, or to connect with a real estate agent anywhere in the world, contact Melanie Dawn by text/phone at 305.801.3133, or by email at MelanieinMiami@gmail.com.
Miami, FL December 12, 2016 – Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate is pleased to announce that Melanie Dawn Molina Wood recently earned her NAR GREEN designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by the National Association of Realtors. She joins an elite group of just 16 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate agents in Florida (and the only one in Miami-Dade County) to achieve this designation.