Sustainable Living:
Building & Construction
This page provides resources for building homes and other structures that can withstand Floirida's unique weather conditions, as well as information about reducing the environmental impact of construction and development.
For general information about home building, repairs, pest control, and other topics, see House & Home.
Energy-efficient Housing
UF/IFAS Sites
- Continuing Education for Building Professionals--Program for Resource Efficient Communities
- Energy Efficient Living--Living Green
- Program for Resource Efficient Communities
UF/IFAS Publications
- Conservation Easements--LivingGreen TV Episode
- Energy Conservation--LivingGreen TV Episode
- Energy Efficient Homes
- Renewable Energy--LivingGreen TV Episode
Other Sites & Publications
- Building Technologies Program--U.S. Department of Energy
- ENERGY STAR/U.S. EPA
- Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy--U.S. Department of Energy
- Qualified New Homes--ENERGY STAR/U.S. EPA
Green Building
UF/IFAS Sites
- Continuing Education for Building Professionals--Program for Resource Efficient Communities
- Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program
- Landscaping for Wildlife
- Living Green
- The Natural Areas Training Academy
- Office of Sustainability
UF/IFAS Publications
- Evaluating Private Lands for Conservation of Wildlife
- Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program
- Green Roofs in Urban Landscapes
- Landscaping for Wildlife
- Policies that Address Sustainable Building Practices
- Water Conservation
Other Sites & Publications
- Buildings & Plants--ENERGY STAR/U.S. EPA
- The Costs & Financial Benefits of Green Building--U.S. Green Building Council
- Florida Building Codes and Standards: Fact Sheets--Florida Department of Community Affairs
- Florida Green Building Coalition
- Florida Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency--Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
- Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits--Capital E
- Market-based Incentives for Green Building Alternatives--Powell Center for Construction and Environment (pdf)
- U.S. Green Building Council
Windstorm-resistant Housing
UF/IFAS Sites
UF/IFAS Publications
- Performance Under Pressure: Cast-in-Place (CIP) Concrete Walls (pdf)
- Performance Under Pressure: Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Walls (pdf)
- Performance Under Pressure: Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Walls (pdf)
- Wind Damage Mitigation (series)
Other Sites & Publications
- My Safe Florida Home
- Windstorm Impact Reduction Implementation Plan--National Science and Technology Council (pdf)
- Windstorm Mitigation Study Committee--Florida Department of Financial Services
- Return to Sustainable Living
General Resources
UF/IFAS Sites
- Center for Training, Research and Education for Environmental Occupations (TREEO)
- Department of Agricultural Education and Communication
- Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences
- Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse
- Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute
- Florida Partnership for Water, Agriculture & Community Sustainability at Hastings
- Food and Resource Economics Department
- Geoplan
- Living Green
- Office of Sustainability
- Program for Resource Efficient Communities
- Virtual Field Day
- Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources
UF/IFAS Publications
- Community Development Series
- Saving Energy
- Sustainable Community Development
- Wildlife and Agriculture
State & Federal Agencies
- American FactFinder--U.S. Census Bureau
- American Planning Association
- Division of Community Planning--Florida Department of Community Affairs
- Division of Housing and Community Development--Florida DCA
- ENERGY STAR
- Fedstats
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA)
- Florida Legislature
- Florida Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development (OTTED)
- Florida's Labor Market Statistics--Agency for Workforce Innovation
- U.S. Census Bureau Economic Programs
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Community Services
- USDA Rural and Community Development
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- American Planning Association
Other University Sites
- Florida Resources and Environmental Analysis Center--FSU
- Green Building and Sustainable Design--UC Davis Extension
- LaHouse--Lousiana State University AgCenter
Organizations & Associations
- American Community Gardening Association
- Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida
- Community Development Society
- The Rural Policy Research Institute
- U.S. Green Building Council