Developer's model home recognized for energy use

SARASOTA — Pearl Homes, a developer of sustainable smart home communities, has fulfilled the requirements of LEED Zero Energy for its Hunters Point resort unit.

The Pearl Home is the first single-family home in the world to receive the LEED Zero Certification, according to a press release. LEED Zero Energy recognizes buildings or spaces that achieve a source energy use balance of zero over a period of 12 months.

The Pearl Homes team was recognized at the 2019 Greenbuild Conference in Chicago. They were presented with a certificate from Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council.

"The Pearl Homes team accepted the LEED Zero Energy challenge and we’re proud to certify the Hunters Point Model Home as the first LEED Zero single family home in the world," says Ramanujam in the statement. “This project is not only an example of sustainability, it demonstrates the power of the Pearl Homes leadership in transforming the homebuilding industry.”

The Hunters Point model home has technologies including Google Home Smart Speaker and Home Assistant, rooftop solar arrays paired with a sonnen intelligent residential energy management system, Energy Star Appliances and WaterSense high-efficiency fixtures and Hunter Smart Irrigation.

Pearl Homes also announced plans to certify all future projects under the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Positive vision, the statement adds. Pearl Homes will adhere to the standards for all future projects, including the 280-home Hunters Point Resort in Cortez, the 720-unit OurLives community in Ellenton and a number of unannounced projects in other parts of the U.S.

“From day one we’ve sought to build more than just a completely sustainable community for eco-conscious individuals, but one that is scalable and sustainable as a business. Having demonstrated the ability to do this at the residential level, we are excited to explore the potential of partnering with hospitality brands seeking properties suitable for the growing population of eco-conscious travelers,” says Marshall Gobuty, founder and president of Pearl Homes, in the statement. “While Hunters Point may be based in Florida, the concept is transferable to any place the sun shines and given our strength in relationships with innovative technology companies like sonnen and Google — the sky is the limit.”