Harmony Energy Star Green Homes

     Florida is beginning to attract attention as a place that has become very green. The state has a lot to offer those who live there; beaches, entertainment, sports, etc. Harmony is a community that has a very interesting story as well as some innovating ideas.

     The Harmony project originally began as the Harmony Institute, a non-profit foundation created by former Orlando Humane Society/SPCA of Central Florida director Martha Lentz in 1996. As the guiding light of the developing Harmony community, the Institute exists to promote the psychological, emotional and public health values of living in an integrated balance with pets, wildlife and nature. Today, the thriving community of Harmony is home to approximately 1,000 residents, many of them families. The entire community is all about environmentalism as well as proudly serving as caretakers and contributors to Central Florida.

     Every home in Harmony is required to be built to Federal Energy Star standards in addition to many others. They are fitted with energy-conserving windows, highly efficient and tightly sealed heating and cooling systems and duct work, high quality water heating equipment (with solar heating usually an option) and the latest high efficiency appliances. Before gaining an Energy Star certification, every home is tested by an independent evaluator to make sure that there are no air leaks and that all other components meet Energy Star standards. The homes are also getting built to Florida Water Star standards. The Water Star requires an independent check, like Energy Star, and focuses on water conserving measures in the home and landscape. They didn’t just stop there. Homes are also being built to cater to the strict standards of the Florida Green Building Coalition. This means that each home was built using minimal natural resources. Many homes have parts made from recycled materials. The entire development program for the Harmony community was evaluated by the Florida Green Building Coalition and found to meet their Green Development standards. The community has been noted by the FGBC in 2009 for being their highest scoring community in Florida! Harmony has received several awards both regionally and statewide for its dedication to environmental stewardship. Harmony was the proud recipient of the 2006 WCI Green Building Award presented by Sustainable Florida. This recognized Harmony’s commitment to preserving the environment while creating a healthy economy for Florida.

     Harmony is a leader in many ways. It has been noted by several universities and media as a premier place to live and retire. The community completely lives to its mission: to be stewards to the Earth.