Spring is in the air and despite the bleak economic outlook in the real estate market, existing home and condo owners are going green in the home remodeling mode with energy efficiency and hurricane protection products.
Gulf Atlantic Industries of America, Inc. owner, Marvin Lebovitz, reports on this years annual International Builders Show in Orlando, Florida, "Consumers were primarily searching for products that will save them money on energy costs and storm protection devices. Solar energy, insulation, ultra high efficiency central a/c, and low-E coating hurricane impact windows took center stage."
Lebovitz adds that, "Gulf Atlantic Industries is receiving a significant increase in calls from south Florida residents for solar hot water systems, ICYENE insulation, ultra high efficiency central air conditioning, and hurricane impact window products. The good news is that residential homes that are properly engineered and remodeled with these devices can realistically see monthly energy savings as high as 30%. High rise condo unit owners can expect monthly energy savings in the 15% range when converting to ultra high efficiency central a/c systems and low-E tinted hurricane impact windows."
In response to this growing demand by home owners, Gulf Atlantic Industries of America, Inc. (GAI) (a state licensed and insured south Florida general contractor) has joined as a new member of "The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit community working to make green buildings accessible to everyone within a generation. Gulf Atlantic is also a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
The interest in solar energy and energy savings products isn't new in Florida. Throughout the late 70's and 80's, solar hot water heaters for homes and pools were a hot commodity throughout south Florida. There were incentive rebates through Florida Power and Light (FPL), generous federal tax credits, and creative financing programs that enabled homeowners to purchase these devices through the monthly savings off their utility bills. In many cases it worked well - homeowners were being able to pocket the excess savings as the systems were paying themselves off. Right about the time the tax credits and rebate programs expired, Hurricane Andrew blew through with its devastation. Most solar systems were found still attached to their installed roofs one-half mile away from the home.
Post Andrew created a lull in the Florida solar energy market. Today, with record fuel and energy costs soaring solar, along with new state-of-the-art energy saving systems, are making a strong comeback in terms of Florida's home remodeling market.
For more information on converting your residence to a "high performance home" and how going green can benefit you, visit The U.S.Green Building Council (USGBC), a 501(c) (3) non profit that developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, at usgbc.org.
Please call Gulf Atlantic Industries for more information and a no obligation free estimate on hurricane impact resistant and energy saving replacement windows, doors, accordion shutters and other shutter systems, storm panels, new roofs, screen pool and patio enclosures, solar energy insulation and ultra high efficiency central A/C. Gulf Atlantic Industries of America, Inc. and serves all South Florida, Miami Dade County, Ft. Lauderdale, Broward County and the Palm Beaches. You can reach them toll-free at (800) 679-0369 or (305) 937-0500, or visit them at http://www.RemodelSouthFlorida.com.