Friday, November 12, 2010

Good for You, Treasure Coast, Nov. 14

By reader submitted

Friday, November 12, 2010

Hibiscus’ Braden named ‘Citizen Architect’

Hibiscus Children’s Center announces that volunteer Dan Braden of Braden & Braden, A1A, P.A., has been awarded “Citizen Architect” for his community involvement by the American Institute of Architects. Headquartered in Washington D.C., this is its highest community involvement award. Braden received this award because of his long time work with local non-profits, including Hibiscus Children’s Center, where he currently serves as the chairman of the Hibiscus Governing Board of Directors.

Braden’s dedication and commitment to helping abused and neglected children in the community began 25 years ago when he combined his skills and talents as a renowned architect with his passion for protecting children and making life better for them in the community. He donated his professional services to the designing and building project of the Tilton Family Children’s Shelter (formerly the Hibiscus Children’s Shelter) in Jensen Beach. The shelter was the first of its kind on the Treasure Coast — a fully licensed residential facility for children removed from their homes due to egregious abuse and neglect. To this day, he has remained an active participant in the shelter’s growth and needs of the physical facility. He is a member of the facilities committee, which oversees the shelter and other Hibiscus facilities’ repairs and improvements. Braden has held several leadership roles over the years and has remained an integral part of every major Hibiscus decision and has always been supportive of the many special events and activities that provide funding for the Hibiscus programs.

As the needs of our community’s children increased, Braden put his skills to work by designing the Hibiscus Children’s Village, which opened its doors in 2004, to serve abused and neglected children in a more family-like setting with eight individual homes .

(http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/nov/12/good-for-you/)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Habitat for Humanity completes 'green' home in Martin County

By Kim Hughes

Originally published 09:37 p.m., November 10, 2010
Updated 09:38 p.m., November 10, 2010

STUART — Leo Rodriguez and his new home in East Stuart were the center of attention Wednesday, with good reason — it’s the first green home completed by Habitat for Humanity of Martin County.

Margot Graff, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Martin County, said the project started a year ago when the city of Stuart and the Community Redevelopment Agency started looking into “green” opportunities.

Upon learning of the city’s grant program focusing on “green initiatives,” Habitat for Humanity of Martin County applied for and was awarded $100,000 to build three green homes. The Rodriguez home is the first of those to be built in Stuart. Two more will be completed in December and January.

Graff said these homes are a great fit for Habitat for Humanity homeowners, for whom affordability is an issue. “We work every way we can to keep their expenses down,” Graff said. Greener features mean lower utility bills and fewer maintenance costs.

Braden and Braden Architects designed the homes. Dan Braden, principal architect, said many components were incorporated to help the Rodriguez home meet green certification standards set by the Florida Green Building Coalition.

These features include a high-efficiency air conditioning unit; an on-demand water heater; closed-cell foam insulation; double-pane insulated windows; energy-efficient appliances; low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads; and low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and adhesives.

The exterior of the home features gutters and rain barrels to catch water that can be used to irrigate the home’s small yard. The landscape plan was designed by Robin Pelensky, an LEED-certified professional with HJA Design Studio. To further the green theme, Pelensky chose native plants and grass that requires minimal maintenance and water.

Kyle Abney of Abney + Abney Green Solutions, which consulted on the project, said cost no longer keeps homeowners from going green. “It’s getting to the point where it’s almost a no-brainer. There’s really little or no additional cost.”

Rodriguez and his son, Joshua, a Martin County High School graduate, plan to move into their new two-bedroom, one-bath home over the next few days.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Habitat for Humanity to dedicate first green home in Martin County

Kelly Beard, a member of the Treasure Coast community. This story is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with this site.

Originally published 06:19 p.m., November 3, 2010
Updated 06:19 p.m., November 3, 2010

STUART — On Wednesday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m., Habitat for Humanity of Martin County will dedicate the first green home in Martin County and the city of Stuart, also the first green build for the local Habitat affiliate.

The home is located at 808 Tarpon Avenue in East Stuart and it is the first home Leonardo Rodriguez’s family will own. The Stuart resident is currently renting an apartment with his son.

“It’s a miracle; a dream come true,” Rodriguez said. “I’m the first member of my family to build and own a home in the United States.”

Rodriguez contributed 300 sweat equity hours working on his home and the homes of others as a requirement to become a Habitat homeowner. Through donations of funds, materials and volunteer labor, Habitat was able to build the home and sell it at an affordable price. Rodriguez will purchase the home with a no-profit loan and his monthly mortgage payments will be used to build more Habitat homes.

The construction of Habitat’s green homes conforms to environmentally sensitive standards, meeting gold rating requirements by the Florida Green Building Coalition.

“This Habitat project in Martin County proves you can build green-certified homes with little to no additional costs,” Habitat’s green consultant, Kyle Abney of Abney + Abney Green Solutions, Inc said. “Green features such as proper orientation, using light interior colors to reflect natural light, low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and adhesives, extended overhangs for shade, not installing a garbage disposal, using low-flow shower heads, faucets and toilets, and xeriscaping are all utilized in this home and can be done in any home.”

This project is made possible thanks to the City of Stuart Community Redevelopment Agency, which provided a $100,000 “green initiatives” grant to help finance three green homes. Habitat is partnering with Abney + Abney Green Solutions, Inc., Braden & Braden architects and HJA Design Studio which provided consultations on the construction of this and the other Habitat green homes in East Stuart. Special thanks to the generous sponsors who also contributed to this project: Boys and Girls Club of Martin County, The Batchelor Foundation, Publix Super Markets Charities, Realtors Association of Martin County, TD Bank Charitable Foundation, Treasure Coast Community Church and Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation.

“We’re really excited about this project. This is our first green home, made possible by a grant from the City of Stuart,” said City Manager Dan Hudson at the home’s groundbreaking in February. “What we’re looking to do here in the East Stuart community is promote homeownership. Thanks to our partnership with Habitat, it’s becoming a reality for qualified applicants.”

The event will include a ceremonial dedication, open house and refreshments. Habitat staff and consultants will be on hand to answer questions about the construction, as well as the sustainable/environmentally friendly components.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Martin County, visit http://www.HabitatMartin.org or call (772) 223-9940.

About Habitat for Humanity of Martin County

Habitat for Humanity of Martin County is a not-for-profit, volunteer-driven organization that extends the opportunity to purchase simple, decent, affordable homes to local families who would not otherwise have that chance. The three key criteria necessary in order to make homeownership a reality for families include the need for shelter, ability to pay, and willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity. For more information, call (772) 223-9940 or visit http://www.HabitatMartin.org.

This story is contributed by a member of the Treasure Coast community and is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with this site.