St. Johns River Water Management District

News Release

nr09-064

DeLand providing rebate for Florida Water Star^SM home

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 Star^SM certification to a local builder. Gallery Homes will receive a check for $724 for having a home certified to meet Florida Water Star^SM 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 Star^SM program among home builders, the city of DeLand is offering each builder 10 free Florida Water Star^SM inspections for water-efficient homes built in the city. City staff have been trained and are now certified to provide Florida Water Star^SM inspections.

Similar to the federal Energy Star program, but with a water conservation focus, the St. Johns River Water Management District's Florida Water Star^SM 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 Star^SM coordinator, at dirwin@sjrwmd.com or visit the program's Web pages at floridawaterstar.com for more information about Florida Water Star^SM.

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