Tour of Green Residence in Kendall

Tour of Green Residence in Kendall

The USGBC South Florida Chapter's Miami-Dade and the Keys Branch is proud to invite you to tour the fabulous Harum-Alvarez green home.  Come meet the owner, Albert Harum-Alvarez, and learn about the project's history, design and construction process.

The Harum-Alvarez family completed their home two years ago. While some green homes seek efficiency through tight insulation and others aim to be fully open to the breezes, the Harum-Alvarez house "works" with windows open or closed.

When the house's 42 windows are open, its vernacular South Florida design keeps the house breezy and pleasant.  When the windows are closed, the house's thermally massive walls and its geothermal A/C maintain a comfortable temperature at a very affordable cost.  During last month's unseasonably frigid weather, the Harum-Alvarez' electric bill was $40 -- for a family of five with a pool and home office.  Electric bills are 75% lower than "similarly equipped" homes in the area.  Best of all, the house did not cost significantly more to construct than the average custom home.

The green house also composts its toilet waste for use on fruit tree terraces; runs its spring-like pool on zero electricity; and is built with recycled materials.  The average construction job creates at least half-a-dozen dumpster loads of waste -- the Harum-Alvarez house had no dumpster.  Scrap was sorted and re-used onsite throughout the building process.  And boulders dug when excavating the house's cellar were used in the terra-forming that gives the home site its unique ambiance.

To see a diagram of the house, click here.

Due to limited space and parking in a residential neighborhood, only 25 attendees can attend this first tour.  RSVP Required: First come, First serve. Other tours may be added in the future.  Please carpool and please arrive at least 30 minutes early (2:30pm) so that the tour can start on time.

Cost
non-USGBC members -- $10
USGBC members -- Free

RSVP to Janice Zaltman.