Window and Door Installer:
Builder: Palm West Builders
Style: Ranch
First To The Future — Palm Coast Net Zero Home
First To The Future — Palm Coast Net Zero Home
Built by Palm West Builders, this Palm Coast home was designed from the ground up to be a First To The Future® home. FTTF is an initiative created as a result of the success with NEXTGEN HOME EXPERIENCE®—reshaping the way we perceive the relationship between homebuilding and technology. The program’s goal is to encourage the development and construction of homes that integrate advanced building techniques and technology, which result in energy-efficient homes of the future. One builder who embraced the FIRST TO THE FUTURE initiative is Fred Lewers of Palm West Home Builders. Fred previously worked on an FTTF build with Ty Pennington’s home — which also included Viwinco OceanView products.
The Zero Energy Ready build boasts some of the latest advancements in green technology while keeping efficiency, accessibility and quality of life in mind. Some items included are a solar-powered water heater, aerated concrete walls, an automated air filtration system as well as a whole-home water filtration system. Many facets of the home utilize smart home technology that allows the homeowner to make adjustments remotely. Amenities such as heating, sprinklers, and the air filtration system can be programmed with a “set-it-and-forget-it” mindset. Several items in the house are capable of tracking energy consumption metrics and assist the homeowner in identifying areas of improvement. “The house is pricey” Fred admits, “we are trying to show people that are coming in, that if you can’t afford it all, start small and plan for the future upgrades that are important to you”.
When building this home, Fred worked closely with the FTTF team and the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure the house meets the stringent Zero Energy Ready Home’s efficiency requirements. A DOE Zero Energy Ready Home needs to be at least 40%-50% more energy efficient than a typical new home. Building materials and appliances that would result in a low Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index score were individually selected. While most new construction homes earn a HERS Index score of approximately 100, the Palm Coast home received an impressive score of 33 in energy performance. This translates to significant savings on energy bills.
Fred chose a variety of Viwinco products from our OceanView impact-resistant line for the home, including our state-of-the-art 650 Multitrack Patio Door fit with an Autoslide door automation system. “It is important to us that we get good quality products, and we’ve been extremely happy with Viwinco”. When asked why he chose to use Viwinco for this build, he stated, “I first used Viwinco while working on Ty Pennington’s house. I was impressed with everyone from the driver to David Barnes (Viwinco President) being on site. It is a fairly priced product with a team that stands behind it.” Viwinco’s OceanView impact-resistant windows offered the enhanced thermal performance needed to meet the energy efficiency requirements.
