Bay Green Expo, Panama City, Florida

Below are homes featured in the 2008 tour presented by the Growth Management Committee of BEST.

About the “Green” homes and the organic garden:

1. Callaway, 321 Brooks Court.
Directions: Take US98 (Tyndall Parkway) to CR22 and turn east and go ½ block and turn right into Callaway Corners. Diane Bateman’s home at 321 Brooks Court, Callaway, is a systems-built “Beyond Green” home by Stalwart Builders and received the first Platinum (highest) level of LEED’s (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) given in Florida by US Green Building Council. The home has a HERS (Home Energy Rater) score of 26 (while most code-compliant new homes are 100, and 0 is no energy use). Features are: solar panels providing energy, a “desuperheater” providing free hot water, geothermal unit for heating and air, spray foam insulation in the attic and under the house for a perfectly sealed “building envelope“, high-tech air filtration system, low-E windows, sustainable bamboo flooring, Energy Star rated GE appliances, and low VOC paint:

2. Lake Merial, 132 Lake Merial Boulevard.
Directions: Take Rt. 77 north 9 miles from the Lynn Haven Bailey Bridge, or take Rt. 388 to Rt. 77 and turn North and go 4 ½ miles, and turn right into Lake Merial. This home built at 132 Lake Merial Boulevard was built by Dayco Construction using recycled building materials, high efficiency windows, insulation, appliances, lighting, heating, and water heaters that only heat water while the faucet is in use. The Lake Merial community has covenants to protect the lake and protect natural vegetation, minimizing the need for fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation.

3. RiverCamps, 6324 Turkey Cove Lane.
Directions: North on Rt.77 to Rt.388, turn West, go 9.7 miles, or Rt.79 North to Rt. 388, turn right/East and go 2.4 miles, turning south into RiverCamps. This home is at 6324 Turkey Cove Lane in the RiverCamps community was built by Koehnemann Construction is the first home in Bay County Certified by the Florida Green Building Coalition and it has a HERS rating of 74. The home features the use of recycled building materials for siding, recycled metal for the roof, 3’ overhangs, energy efficient foam insulation, energy efficient appliances, sustainable wood for floors and trim, and low VOC paints. The lot has natural landscaping with drought-tolerant plants and sod and many trees for shade.

4. Alys Beach, 44 Seven Wells Court.
Directions: Take US98 west from Panama City Beach and after crossing Lake Powell, turn left/south on Rt. 30A and go 1 mile to the Alys Beach entrance on the right. This home at 44 Seven Wells Court in Alys Beach was designed by Chicago architect Doug Farr and received an American Institute of Architects Chicago Sustainability Design Excellence Award. Some of the features are solar panels hidden on a flat roof, terrazzo recycled glass floors, reclaimed wood floors on the 2nd floor, dual-flush toilets, white masonry walls and roofs to reflect the sun and lower structure maintenance costs.

5. Seaside, Garden at Corner of Quincy Circle and Smolian Circle.
Directions: Take US98 west to Rt. 30A and continue on 30A to Seaside. The Seaside Neighborhood School and The Seaside Institute’s organic garden transformed a weed filled lot into an organic garden with herbs and vegetables, with fruits and flowers to be added. The Corner Garden highlights our interest in creating sustainable communities.