On the list of awards that no one in Miami will win: The Florida Association of Realtors is holding it's annual Environmental Awards competition, the "ENVY" Awards, honoring developments that support environmentalism while still providing sexy digs for its residents. Al Gore must be so excited.
FAR gives the awards to developments that make "the most significant contribution toward building in harmony with Florida’s sensitive environment" and "best preserves Florida’s natural quality of life." And by "natural quality of life," they mean the actual environment, not the quality of life of the 7,000 people who move to the state every day. Considering the fact that Miami is currently sticking buildings on every inch of available land in the city to the point there is barely any room for weeds to grow, and speed boats have mowed over all the manatees like a giant game of Whack-a-Mole, our city is not exactly a paragon of environmental consciousness. But it would still be fun to try.
Deadline for submissions is July 7, 2006.
FAR gives two awards, one for commercial development and one for residential. Last year's winner for residential development was some sprawling housing subdivision near Sarasota, where developers left wetlands intact. One can only guess how many alligators are living in those waters, ready to eat everyone's pets and the occasional unsuspecting child. But let us not sully the moment with such common sense negativity! We salute all the people who want to move into those homes and commune with nature.
But the folks at Dwell Magazine have proven that environmental consciousness can be very sexy; there's more to environmental awareness than saving the wetlands. Energy efficiency makes a big difference, as does proper use of sustainable materials. Why use tropical hardwood floors, when bamboo looks just as good and the trees grow back almost immediately? With the prices of fuels going as high as they are, why not be energy-efficient? This is the future of building, honestly. We might as well start adjusting now.
Send submissions to ENVY Award, Florida Association of Realtors, 7025 Augusta National Drive, Orlando, FL 32822-5017.
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