Thursday, May 26, 2011

On Top of the World Environmental Honors Keep Coming

OCALA, FLA. – Yet another environmental accolade has been added to a growing list of national and state honors earned by On Top of the World Communities with its selection as a finalist in the Sustainable Florida 2011 Best Practices Awards program sponsored by the Collins Center for Public Policy.
One of just three finalists in the green-building category, On Top of the World, 8445 SW 80th St., is the only Florida home builder to reach the finals for displaying “outstanding ... sustainable practice in the built environment.”
This commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and energy-efficient home designs also grabbed the attention of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which presented On Top of the World with a 2010 ENERGY STAR® Excellence in ENERGY STAR® Promotion Award for its energy-efficient homes and consumer-education programs. The community was the only Florida home builder – and one of just six in the nation – to receive this honor.
On Top of the World landed among award finalists for various reasons including the fact that all new homes built in the community are ENERGY STAR®-qualified and are offered with solar power as an optional feature.
This commitment has resulted in 975 ENERGY STAR® homes being built since 2000, and the solar homes built in the community have saved more than 34 tons of coal while generating 87,000 kilowatt hours of electricity ... in the past year alone.
Moreover, On Top of the World recently expanded its sustainability efforts to the community’s commercial buildings by installing a system of solar panels to fully power its 8,800-square-foot golf-course maintenance building. This move will provide 115 percent of the building’s power to run all electrical equipment, air-conditioning, office space, water-recycling systems and to handle the building’s landscaping irrigation.
The Sustainable Florida 2011 Best Practices Awards ceremony will take place June 2 in Daytona Beach.
The Collins Center, named in honor of former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins, was founded in 1988 as a statewide nonprofit organization to seek out creative, non-partisan solutions to Florida’s toughest issues. Throughout its history, the Jacksonville-based center has sought to “uphold the principles maintained by Gov. Collins – public and private integrity, deliberative democracy, environmental stewardship and economic fairness.
Named to the list of America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities by Where to Retire magazine and Best Neighborhood for 55+ by Ocala magazine, On Top of the World Communities has built about 4,500 homes in 14 neighborhoods in this 12,972-acre central Florida location since construction began in the 1980s.
All On Top of the World homes are steel-reinforced concrete block construction, and every home meets or exceeds ENERGY STAR® guidelines ... verified by independent inspectors. In fact, On Top of the World is Florida’s first active-adult community to receive 100 percent ENERGY STAR qualification on all new homes.
For more details, visit OnTopoftheWorld.com.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Activities Just For You @ On Top of the World Communities

There's No Limit to What You Can Do in Just One Day!


Tennis at the professional courts of On Top of the World Communities - Active Adult 55+ Retirement Community.As a resident of On Top of the World, there are extraordinary opportunities to participate in countless activities, clubs and organizations ranging from Mah Jongg, Stamps, and Line Dancing to Tennis, Softball and Wallyball. Residents have access to three golf courses and over 250,000 square feet of recreational facilities – the most anywhere! – as well as over 200 clubs and organizations. These active clubs schedule many fun activities throughout the year including cruises, shows, dances, plays, and much more. When you Swimming in one of On Top of the World Communities' several pools in Ocala, FL.become a resident of On Top of the World, you too will be able to join an established club or create a new one based on your own interests.

Enjoying life during retirement is what you discover when you become a resident of On Top of the World. The Health & Recreation Department (H&R) has created and provides instructors for a variety of health and wellness programs as well as exciting expos, trips and activities. Here are just a few examples:

  • Boomer Boot Camp Fitness Class

  • Craft Fair

  • Rags to Riches Rummage Sale

  • Care & Share Volunteer Expo

  • Home Improvement Expo

  • Kick Butt Kick Boxing Fitness Class

  • Trip to Key West, FL

  • Fats Domino Tribute Show

  • Sweetheart Dance

  • Hoofin’ it for Hospice Charity Walk

  • Medieval Times Dinner Theatre

  • And much more…

Keep up with all On Top of the World resident events and activities at www.OTOWinfo.com.