A Lakeland business saved thousands of gallons of water and paid a smaller utility bill in its first year by constructing its new headquarters to "Florida Water StarSM(Florida Water Star)":/conservation/florida_water_star standards.
Kyra InfoTech, an information technology consulting, project outsourcing and staffing organization headquartered in Lakeland, used 70 percent of the water a comparable business in the area used, according to Ruffin Gray, environmental coordinator with the City of Lakeland Water Utilities Administration.
"This could change the way we think about construction in the future," said Gray. "We can encourage more businesses to start up and create more jobs, with lower impacts on our water resources."
The Kyra InfoTech building is designed to be more energy efficient and water conserving. Water-saving fixtures are used indoors, and landscaping and irrigation outdoors are designed to use as little water as possible. One innovative feature of the project is its aerobic septic system, which allows the use of treated wastewater for irrigation.
In the building's first year of operation, Kyra InfoTech averaged about 800 gallons of billed water use per month, compared to 3,000 gallons per month by the comparable information technology company.
"Building to the Florida Water StarSM standard can really improve a business owner's bottom line," said Susan Douglas, the District's Florida Water StarSM program coordinator. "Lower utility bills reduce a business's overhead, leaving more operating capital for expansion. Even an investor who builds and leases properties can benefit. A building with lower operating expenses can help attract tenants."
Gray said that in addition to savings in operating costs, builders can reap startup cost savings.
"A traditional building of this size would require a larger water meter, which would result in a higher impact fee," said Gray. "Lower projected water use requires a smaller meter, which translates to lower impact fees and a better base rate on the monthly water bill."
Gray also noted the improved curb appeal of the Kyra InfoTech building. "Like many small commercial buildings, the comparable business has very simple landscaping: just some turf with no inground irrigation," he said. "Kyra InfoTech has a variety of landscape beds with drip irrigation, and looks much nicer. Yet it used only a fraction of the water the comparable business used."
Florida Water StarSM is a voluntary certification program for builders, developers and homeowners. It encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes. Landscape criteria are based on the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ "right plant, right place" principle. Irrigation criteria are designed to increase the overall efficiency of irrigation systems and promote correct scheduling. Indoor criteria help meet the needs of the occupants while reducing wasted water.
Florida Water StarSM aligns with other green certification and recognition programs, such as ENERGY STAR©, the Florida Green Building Coalition's green standards and the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) program.
For more information on the Florida Water StarSM certification, contact Susan Douglas, Florida Water StarSM program coordinator, 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4752 or visit the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/fws/(Florida Water Star)":/conservation/florida_water_star.
Kyra InfoTech, an information technology consulting, project outsourcing and staffing organization headquartered in Lakeland, used 70 percent of the water a comparable business in the area used, according to Ruffin Gray, environmental coordinator with the City of Lakeland Water Utilities Administration.
"This could change the way we think about construction in the future," said Gray. "We can encourage more businesses to start up and create more jobs, with lower impacts on our water resources."
The Kyra InfoTech building is designed to be more energy efficient and water conserving. Water-saving fixtures are used indoors, and landscaping and irrigation outdoors are designed to use as little water as possible. One innovative feature of the project is its aerobic septic system, which allows the use of treated wastewater for irrigation.
In the building's first year of operation, Kyra InfoTech averaged about 800 gallons of billed water use per month, compared to 3,000 gallons per month by the comparable information technology company.
"Building to the Florida Water StarSM standard can really improve a business owner's bottom line," said Susan Douglas, the District's Florida Water StarSM program coordinator. "Lower utility bills reduce a business's overhead, leaving more operating capital for expansion. Even an investor who builds and leases properties can benefit. A building with lower operating expenses can help attract tenants."
Gray said that in addition to savings in operating costs, builders can reap startup cost savings.
"A traditional building of this size would require a larger water meter, which would result in a higher impact fee," said Gray. "Lower projected water use requires a smaller meter, which translates to lower impact fees and a better base rate on the monthly water bill."
Gray also noted the improved curb appeal of the Kyra InfoTech building. "Like many small commercial buildings, the comparable business has very simple landscaping: just some turf with no inground irrigation," he said. "Kyra InfoTech has a variety of landscape beds with drip irrigation, and looks much nicer. Yet it used only a fraction of the water the comparable business used."
Florida Water StarSM is a voluntary certification program for builders, developers and homeowners. It encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes. Landscape criteria are based on the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ "right plant, right place" principle. Irrigation criteria are designed to increase the overall efficiency of irrigation systems and promote correct scheduling. Indoor criteria help meet the needs of the occupants while reducing wasted water.
Florida Water StarSM aligns with other green certification and recognition programs, such as ENERGY STAR©, the Florida Green Building Coalition's green standards and the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) program.
For more information on the Florida Water StarSM certification, contact Susan Douglas, Florida Water StarSM program coordinator, 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4752 or visit the District's web site at "WaterMatters.org/fws/(Florida Water Star)":/conservation/florida_water_star.