Hurricane season in Florida reminds us all to build a better house

Building homes takes energy and resources. Knocking them down produces copious waste. The most sustainable strategy is to create high-efficiency homes that will last as long as possible. When we build for longevity by removing fragile materials from home construction, we also remove many of the health problems associated with aging and deteriorating buildings, such as mold and volatile organic compounds.

Inside a South Florida home, water is the enemy, whether it comes in the form of rain, humidity or rising seas. Resistance to water is the key to longevity, and to gaining all of the environmental and health benefits that go with it. The homes that we build today should be designed to be, in essence, waterproof.

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