Build a Good Cents Home

What is a Good Cents Home?

The Good Cents Home (GCH) incorporates a number of energy-saving features, providing the owner with a comfortable, energy–efficient home.

Reduced total monthly payments

The energy-saving features of a Good Cents Home will result in a lower electric bill than a conventional home of similar design. Good Cents Home features can save homeowners up to 30 percent or more on heating, cooling, and water heating costs.

For additional information, call
239-656-2300

Good Cents Home Features

Heating/Cooling Equipment
Proper air conditioning and heating capacity is established using ACCA Manual procedures or an approved equivalent. The design temperature shall be 95 degrees Fahrenheit outside with 78 degrees Fahrenheit inside. The installed capacity shall be in accordance with the State of Florida Energy Code. All units will be high efficiency (minimum 15 SEER on a straight cool system).

Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat offers homeowners the flexibility of automatically setting variable temperatures while away from the home.

Alternate Water Heating System
A Good Cents Home will contain one of the following:
Waste Heat Recovery Unit or,
Solar Unit
Note: A/C SEER ratings of 18 or higher must employ a solar water heating system, and not a Heat Recovery Unit.

Attic Insulation
Minimum R-38 (living area) or,
Minimum R-30 (living area with radiant barrier) or,
Spray Foam, 5.5” of open-cell insulation on sealed attics, with make-up air tied into A/C system

Wall Insulation
Minimum R-5 sheathing board (concrete block construction) or,
Minimum R-20 Insulated Concrete Form (ICF)
Minimum R-13 (wood frame construction)

Air Duct Sealant
Mastic on all duct seams and joints. Areas around supply and return air grills where they penetrate the drywall must be sealed.

Attic Ventilation
All attics must employ acceptable passive attic venting on traditional ceiling insulation, and may be sealed air-tight on spray-foam roof decking insulation with proper make-up air tied into A/C system.

Floor Insulation
Minimum R-13 for floors over unconditioned space

Infiltration Package
All openings in walls, doors, top plates and around windows, sliders and doors will be sealed with expandable foam or an approved caulk. An approved infiltration barrier is applied to all exterior walls.

Window/Sliding Glass Doors
All glass doors and windows will have a U-Factor of .60 or less, and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of .30 or less.

Exterior Doors
• All exterior doors will be metal or fiberglass insulated (excluding sliding glass doors).
• Solid wood doors are allowed if protected by a minimum ten foot overhang. Tight fitting gaskets are required on exterior doors. An exterior door is any door between a conditioned space and unconditioned space. Hinged hollow core doors are not allowed.

Other efficient building tips:
• It is recommended all glass area be less than 15 percent of the conditioned floor area
• Choose light color exterior paint and light roofing material
• Consider Energy Star appliances
• Choose compact fluorescent or LED lights
• Install showerheads of 2.0 GPM or less
• How were the GCH features determined?
• Research has shown that a major part of a typical home’s energy consumption is related to heating, cooling, and water heating. LCEC evaluated ways of performing those functions more efficiently. After consulting with area contractors and builders, LCEC narrowed the guidelines to the most beneficial measures.

Increased comfort
Additional thermal protection, along with the proper sizing of the air conditioning unit, optimizes the level of comfort by providing proper humidity removal while cooling the home.