- Sanibel Island Reporter May 2008

Seacoast Cottage Company, Inc. has purchased property in Sanibel to build the first Florida Green Building Coalition Showcase Cottage. It will be the first home in Sanibel to receive this designation, and will feature the latest in green building techniques. “We are very excited to be in Sanibel which was environmentally-conscious long before it was popular,” said Seacoast Cottage Company Vice President Andrea Van Buren, who plans to live in the home with her family. “Our Banyan Cottage – which blends ‘pioneer Florida’ with “Caribbean’ – is an ideal fit for well-preserved Sanibel.”

Some of the features of the Sanibel Island Showcase home include: · Large porch overhands, to prevent sunlight from heating up exterior walls. · The latest solar technology, which increases energy conversion and is more attractive than earlier solar products. · Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), which is stronger than wood frame construction and provide superior insulation and sound absorption. · Energy-star appliance package for efficient water and energy use. · Hurricane rated low-glare, turtle friendly windows and doors. The standard features of the Banyan Cottage give it a green rating of 186, well above the 100 points required to achieve a Green designation by the Florida Green Building Coalition. (FGBC). “This project is unique in that it exemplifies how traditional Caribbean-style architecture, has been inherently energy efficient. Developed for hot, humid climates this style of home exceeds expectations when you are looking to save money,” said Drew Smith, President of Two Trails, Inc, a green consulting firm and founding President of the FGBC. “It makes sense that it pulls together many of the design features needed to garner points on the FGBC checklist.”

Seacoast Cottage Company was founded by native Floridians brother and sister team Arthur Monahan and Andrea Van Buren. With more than 20 years of coastal construction experience, they founded this company to build strong, green cottages that evoke the beauty of the Caribbean. A graduate of Florida State University, Monahan is a licensed and insured General Contractor. He has completed projects in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua, the Dominican Republic, Florida Keys and coastal Florida. Since 2001, he has resided on Fort Myers Beach with his wife and two daughters. Van Buren studied Architecture at the University of Florida, and has worked as an interior designer in Miami. She uses her passion for color and special design to influence the architecture of all their Seacoast Cottages. She currently works out of her studio in Chicago, but looks forward to moving into her new Banyan Cottage on Sanibel.

They have three cottage designs, pictures, details and floor plans can be viewed on their website, located at www.SeacoastCottageCompany.com. The highly sought after FGBC green designation is achieved on a point system, with one to three points being accrued for each green building technique used in construction. Points are achieved in eight categories such as Material Selection, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation. Designations must be certified by a third party agent. For more information on green building, including a checklist, visit the Florida Green Building Coalition website at www.Floridagreenbuilding.org.