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VISION House® > Blog > July 2010

Thoughts from the VISION House Site

Jon Pleveich, Builder, Southern Traditions Development

My blog for the week is about being inspired and challenged. I would like to thank a few people who have brought the VISION and ReVISION projects to life. Ron Piccolo, a professor at Rollins College, friend, and client has challenged me to produce a business model that will showcase homes that are energy efficient, sustainable, fortified, and most importantly AFFORDABLE, Ed Binkley, an award winning architect, who has designed an amazing home with these attributes in mind and Ron Jones who is the leading voice in “Green Building” and a successful publisher. These men have inspired me to rise to the challenge and produce a home for the 2011 International Builders' Show that attains the goals they set out to create.

People tell me it costs too much to build green, but I disagree. I challenge manufacturers, suppliers, and installers to offer better products and services for less. I’m inspired by the ARXX ICF product and its amazing attributes. I’m inspired by Monica and Wally from Cemex, who can’t talk enough about the products they represent. I’m inspired by some manufacturers eagerness to showcase their products and disappointed by others who don’t. The VISION and ReVISION homes are real life, not exhibits in a hall. I knew I was using the right product when we had guests from South Africa and the Dominican Republic. I’m also inspired by my clients desire to have ARXX and Cemex included in there projects after seeing what a superior product it is. I am also inspired by Uponor and the products they offer. Do you think your insurance bill will be less when you have a house fitted with a fire sprinkler system? Guess what, it’s affordable. I’m inspired that we are using Sentricon provided by Home Team Pest for the termite treatment instead of flooding our soil with chemicals. Home Team Pest is also providing pest control inside the walls called TAEXX, instead of chemicals sprayed inside your home. Guess what, it doesn’t cost anymore and your pets are going to love you.

We have only been at this for a few weeks and I am being inspired daily. I am looking forward to writing about the next wave of products and services that will inspire all of us to build green. I look forward to the City of Orlando getting behind a couple of projects that I feel will give a boost to our battered industry. I’m excited that our building inspector reads about the product on his own time. My electric and water bill last month was $ 637.00 for a home similar in size to the VISION home. Shag, my lead installer for the ARXX product says “It’s the only product that pays you back monthly”. At a 50% savings on my energy bill I would pocket $ 3,800.00 a year. OUC, our energy company, would be putting my son through college. What a marketing campaign that would be! We all need to realize the little things add up. I wasn’t mandated to do this, I’m doing it because it makes sense, my clients will appreciate it, and we may make a difference. “GREEN FOR LIFE”

Posted: 7/30/2010 6:45:52 PM by Heather Wallace | with 0 comments

First Floor Up

Architect, Ed Binkley, visits the VISION House Orlando '11 site

Was a good day to visit the site yesterday. The ICF system is most amazing in terms of ease of construction, cleanliness, and addressing all of the structural and environmental issues, which we tend to constantly look for better ways to address...this just may be the answer. Time will tell how the cost compares with other more traditional methods of construction, which for here in Florida would be CMU with applied interior rigid insulation and gyp board. The best guess from the contractor at this point is that the big picture will proove ICF to be a more viable system, in all aspects...I'll save the real answer for Jon to disclose later.

I was pleased to see the interior space and how the visualization is really taking shape. One big open space with no interior bearing walls or columns. The first floor will be very "loft-like" in terms of openness, flexibility and free flowing spaces. It is also encouraging just to see how clean the site stays with the ICF system...suppose I can give Jon some credit there as well...

I have attached a couple of photos from yesterday's visit....enjoy...

Posted: 7/25/2010 9:12:07 PM by Heather Wallace | with 0 comments

ARXX ICF Installed

It was a busy week at the VISION House Orlando! On Monday we began pumping the slab in preparation for erecting the exterior walls. Tuesday, the excitement continued as the ARXX ICF block arrived on-site. The installation of the ARXX ICF block drew many visitors. Monica from Cemex (the ARXX distributor in Florida) was on- site to meet with Southern Traditions clients and other potential ARXX product users. She explained that using ARXX ICF block provided many benefits including a R-50 insulation factor as well as the ability to withstand 185 m.p.h winds. Visitors came from as far as the Dominican Republic to view the installation of this technology as they consider using it for their next project. Neighborhood dog walkers stopped to ask questions about the house made of Styrofoam Legos! All were amazed at the durability and sustainability of this product.

Posted: 7/16/2010 12:17:17 PM by Heather Wallace | with 0 comments

Thoughts from Jon Pleveich of Southern Traditions Development

The VISION and ReVISION House 2011 in Orlando, FL represents a change of lifestyle in many aspects. The homes are designed to showcase green products that are affordable and will blend into the fabric of the community. Goodbye to long commutes, sprawl, and communities which lack any sense of design. It makes sense to build or remodel green- it saves money and valuable resources while building and creating new industries.

The VISION and ReVISION homes are being built in an older community minutes from downtown Orlando and all that this great city offers. College Park is an urban community with an abundance of activities that appeal to many personalities. You can participate in an “Urban Assault,” a 20-mile plus bike ride through the streets of Orlando, or sit in I-4 traffic. You can go to one of the local Farmers’ Markets for fresh organic food and produce, or sit in I-4 traffic. You can watch your children play Little League, Soccer, or Football, or sit in I-4 traffic. How about watching “Superman” and his “Magic Teammates” crush Lebron and the Miami Heat’s title hopes. You could also sit in I-4 traffic. Do I make any sense?

We want the VISION and ReVISION homes to portray a greater sense of community, family life, healthier living, and lasting “Traditions.” We need to determine the glass is half full, because the half empty attitude is not working. We need to start creating our own opportunities and good news, turn off or turnaround the bad news. Let’s start living, GREEN FOR LIFE…

Posted: 7/14/2010 6:18:37 PM by Heather Wallace | with 0 comments

The VISION House Orlando '11

Thoughts from Architect, Ed Binkley...

I am pleased to have been selected as the architect for the 2011 VISION House for Green Builder Magazine. I have been involved with several show homes through the years and all have offered very unique and challenging design opportunities…and a forum to explore new design solutions and products in an arena of teamwork and common goals.

The VISION House is a special project to me because we are showcasing a home that can truly be considered mainstream. It is a home that is affordable to a majority of the masses, fits well within the community fabric, utilizes systems that enable the home to operate very efficiently and economically, and above all is very livable for today’s lifestyle.

The 2400 sf home will rest on a 50’ x 165’ urban fringe infill lot in a historic community called College Park adjacent to Orlando, Florida.

From the street the home looks like many of the homes that adorn the community, narrow house with rear detached garage, double front porch, center entry door…very typical “kit of parts”. The interior however is where the home “unplugs” and opens up. Many homes of this style have small chopped up floor plans that are difficult to furnish and difficult to comfortably live in. And the thing that really gets me is so many new models of this style are left unfurnished simply because the homes don’t show well when furnished…there are no obvious solutions.

The VISION House 2011 offers a wide open plan that stretches the entire length of the home, the dining and chat room is up front, the kitchen and stair way is the heart, and the living room opens to the rear covered outdoor living room with bbq area, fireplace and cocktail pool. From there is stair access to the additional game room/guest quarters above the oversized two car garage. There is also a side entry from the driveway that includes the powder and mud rooms.

Upstairs are three bedrooms, each with direct access to the front or rear balcony, two baths, and a mid level laundry/hobby room, which is a place where multi tasking can easily take place with the inclusion of areas for computer, homework, art projects, gift wrapping etc…with abundant natural day lighting it truly becomes a family center within the home.

The “loft like character”, use of interior windows to borrow daylight, an “industrial farmhouse” character, and the use of materials and products in unexpected ways all add to the uniqueness of the home.

I will add images of the on the next blog…but for now hopefully I have stirred your interest...

Posted: 7/2/2010 2:00:24 PM by Heather Wallace | with 0 comments

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About Me

Welcome to the VISION House Blog! Green Builder Media’s VISION House Series presents realistic housing options for American families. VISION Houses provide real, cost-effective, sustainable solutions that are appropriate for today’s economy. Visit the VISION House blog for updates on the construction process and thoughts from the people involved!

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