Sustainable housing is important no matter where you live, especially by the coast. Your Florida beach house sits in a sensitive location near the ocean, where environmental challenges abound. Here are five big reasons why making sustainable decisions for your oceanside home is essential.

1. Complementing the Landscape

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Beaches are picturesque. Although they come in many shapes and sizes, they all seem perfect in their own unique way. Your beach in Florida is no different. All the trees, rock formations and other geographic features contribute to its flawless appearance. You want your house to complement the landscape’s natural beauty, not overpower it.

Beach houses should look like they belong there. That means you should use materials and design styles that match your surroundings. Take a biophilic approach and incorporate natural shapes into your home. Choose paint colors already dominating the landscape, such as the water and trees outside your house.

2. Harnessing Natural Resources

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A beach house that complements its surroundings must also harness local natural resources. Timber should be the first material that comes to mind, but not all types are sustainable. Vinyl is a safer alternative because it has a convincing wooden appearance and is more cost-effective to maintain.

You can also take advantage of more natural light by adding low-emissivity windows to your home. More sunlight means you spend less on energy-consuming artificial fixtures. Installing a few solar panels to turn the sun’s rays into extra electricity is another worthwhile investment.

Rainwater is an unlimited natural resource that you should take full advantage of. Florida gets 40 to 60 inches of rain every year, one of the highest totals in the country. You can reduce energy costs and get a reliable water supply by installing a rainwater harvesting system.

3. Keeping Saltwater at Bay

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Beaches might be beautiful and relaxing, but they can also be destructive. Saltwater is corrosive and damages your home’s exterior over time. That’s why choosing a durable siding material like timber or vinyl is so important. You also need roofing features that effectively drain the saltwater, including perimeter drains and a subsurface drainage system.

Your paint choice is another important factor. Finding a corrosion-resistant coating ensures you don’t have to repaint the exterior every few years, which helps the environment by reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

4. Withstanding Harsh Weather

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A sustainable beach house can withstand tropical storms without a huge environmental footprint. Nothing is more effective against hurricane winds and torrential downpours than Florida’s natural elements — wood and stone. Homes with lots of artificial materials won’t last long against the forces of nature.

That’s why it’s so important to make sustainable material choices. They’re more eco-friendly and complementary to your coastal setting and are made to withstand harsh weather. 

5. Increasing Property Value

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Sustainable housing isn’t just beneficial for the environment. It also helps you in the long run by increasing your property’s resale value. Homes with high energy-efficiency ratings sell for 2.7% more than those with poor ones. If plans change and you need to relocate, all your eco-friendly investments will pay off. 

Sustainability Matters

Living by the ocean is a big responsibility. Marine ecosystems have suffered because of humanity’s destructive habits, but you can make a difference by putting your coastal property to good use. These five points show why sustainability matters so much in your Florida home.