This Saturday, Wekiva Island will be closed until 5:00 p.m. for our annual Fall Egg Fest. We’d love for you to join the fun—grab your ticket and be part of the festivities. After 5:00 p.m., the Island will reopen and welcome guests as usual.
Sustainability Matters
At Wekiva Island, we’re passionate about caring for the environment we live in — the delicate ecosystems, amazing wildlife, beautiful plant life, and of course, our beloved Wekiva River. We’ve transformed a historical neighborhood staple into a place where the community can not only gather, but also learn about sustainability — and incorporate changes into their own lives. We look forward to enjoying nature with you now, and long into the future.
Every day is Earth Day!
Looking at the environmental facts, you might feel a sense of alarm and want to look for ways to improve your carbon footprint, cut down on waste, and become overall more eco-conscious. At Wekiva Island, it’s our goal to do all these things! To help show our love for nature, we’ve developed processes to keep Mother Earth happy and healthy.
Here are just a few of them:
- We generate much of our electricity via our solar panels.
- There are 290 solar panels used to power the island, 210 onsite and 80 offsite.
- Recycling is always encouraged. Look for recycling bins throughout the property.
- We collect rainwater for reuse.
- Check out our Island decor — we have incorporated many reused and reclaimed materials.
- Our hot water is powered by solar.
- Our water closets are low and dual flush to conserve water.
- Our bathrooms feature waterless urinals.
- We have redone our landscaping to feature only native species.
- We created Wekiva Blooms, a Community Compost Center and program that collects food scraps to benefit local agriculture.
Our Mike Barr Education & Learning Center is where sustainability meets innovation in a setting designed to inspire. Explore our state-of-the-art, LEED Platinum-certified Classroom, uniquely powered by the Wekiva River, and discover a space dedicated to green education and unforgettable experiences.
Solar Energy Production
While there is much debate about the effect of our increasing carbon levels on the planet, the science is clear. The negative impacts are growing and, unfortunately, becoming obvious to us all. In the past few hundred years, man has “dumped” so much non-natural carbon into the atmosphere, the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have more than doubled.
Wekiva Island is determined to be a leader in the efforts of reducing atmospheric carbon and decreasing the risk of catastrophic climate change. As part of those efforts, we have adopted the 2030 Challenge and pledged to be carbon neutral before that date. The goals of the challenge can be accomplished by implementing innovative sustainable design strategies, generating on-site renewable power, and/or purchasing certified renewable energy credits (20% maximum).
This mission means so much to us that we have developed a toolbox to help steer our efforts, now trademarked — C.E.R.O.® (Conservation, Efficiency, Renewables and Offsets). Through this approach, we are proud to say, we are close to achieving our goal. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach this significant milestone.
Today
Pre-Development
Peek (1999)
Conservation
Efficiency
Renewables
Offsets
Landscapes
–14.3
–1.5
–4.5
–4.5
-4.5
-4.5
Utilities
–
1,182.1
102.5
81.6
25.9
0.0
Electricity
–
946.5
90.7
69.7
14.1
0.0
LP
–
235.5
11.8
11.8
11.8
0.0
Water
–
.12
.03
.03
.00
0.0
Sewer
–
.12
.03
.03
.03
0.0
Cable
–
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Transportation
–
719.2
227.4
225.0
225.0
0.0
Guest Travel *
–
600.9
190.3
190.3
190.3
0.0
Employee Travel *
–
75.3
23.8
21.4
21.4
0.0
Delivery
–
39.9
12.6
12.6
12.6
0.0
Maintenance
–
2.0
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.0
Guest Recreation
–
0.6
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
Employee Boat Use
–
0.6
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
Waste
–
55.0
11.4
11.4
11.4
0.0
Recycle
–
–
7.4
7.4
7.4
0.0
Landfill
–
55.0
4.1
4.1
4.1
0.0
Compost
–
–
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Total
-14.3
1,954.8
336.8
313.5
257.9
-4.5
*travel to and from Wekiva Island
Pre-Development : -14.3
Peek (1999) : -1.5
Today
Conservation: -4.5
Efficiency: -4.5
Renewables: -4.5
Offsets: -4.5
Pre-Development : –
Peek (1999) : 1,182.1
Today
Conservation: 102.5
Efficiency: 81.6
Renewables: 25.9
Offsets: 0.0
Pre-Development : –
Peek (1999) : 719.2
Today
Conservation: 227.4
Efficiency: 225.0
Renewables: 225.0
Offsets: 0.0
Pre-Development : –
Peek (1999) : 55.0
Today
Conservation: 11.4
Efficiency: 11.4
Renewables: 11.4
Offsets: 0.0
Pre-Development : -14.3
Peek (1999) : 1,954.8
Today
Conservation: 336.8
Efficiency: 313.5
Renewables: 257.9
Offsets: -4.5
