The house is a modern “Florida Cracker” style home with 2375 square feet of indoor-outdoor living space, including screened porches. It features numerous water and energy-conserving designs and devices, as well as building materials with recycled content. Energy Star® appliances and such renewable resources as Bamboo and Cork flooring are highlighted, along with recycled plastic carpet and ceramic tiles made from recycled auto windshields.

The “Model Florida Yard” demonstrates xeriscaping, micro-irrigation, composting, edible landscaping, reduced use of pesticides, fertilizers, water and energy, reduction of detrimental stormwater run-off, and two 2500-gallon cisterns which collect rainwater for use in irrigation. The Learning Center also uses extensive educational signage in the yard and in the house.

Since the project began, the Learning Center has averaged about $12,000 of in-kind donations per year, and more than 150 new “green” products and services have been incorporated since its inception. In 2006 alone, the following new displays were added:

• Clear Accordion Hurricane Shutters
• Fabric/Mesh Hurricane Shutters
• Porous Recycled Rubber Sidewalk
• Palmwood Flooring
• Almendro-Teak FSC-Certified Flooring
• Strand-Woven Bamboo Flooring
• Tube Skylight with Exhaust Fan & Artificial Light
• Tube Skylight with Daylight Dimmer Control
• Tankless Water Heater
• Automatic Sensor Faucet
• Soy-based Foam Insulation Display
• Rain Barrels
• Butterfly House