PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 17, 2009 - Building a home that conserves water will translate to savings for homebuilders in DeLand.
On Sept. 21, the city of DeLand will present the first rebate check for Florida Water StarSM certification to a local builder. Gallery Homes will receive a check for $724 for having a home certified to meet Florida Water StarSM requirements. The rebate consists of a $50 building permit fee rebate and a 15 percent reduction in water and sewer impact fees. The offer will be open to all homebuilders in DeLand.
To broaden participation in the Florida Water StarSM program among home builders, the city of DeLand is offering each builder 10 free Florida Water StarSM inspections for water-efficient homes built in the city. City staff have been trained and are now certified to provide Florida Water StarSM inspections.
Similar to the federal Energy Star program, but with a water conservation focus, the St. Johns River Water Management District's Florida Water StarSM certification program encourages water efficiency in household appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes. The program promotes the economic and environmental benefits of efficiency in new home construction by offering a third-party certified inspection to guarantee water efficiency in new home construction.
To qualify for certification, Gallery Homes installed low-flow fixtures, reduced irrigated turf in its landscape, limited irrigation to the front yard and planted Bahia grass in the back. All landscape beds are irrigated using micro-irrigation.
E-mail Deirdre Irwin, Florida Water StarSM coordinator, at dirwin@sjrwmd.com or visit the program's Web pages at floridawaterstar.com for more information about Florida Water StarSM.