Frank McKinney is a "maverick daredevil real estate artist" according to his not-at-all-over-the-top website, a "super hero meets Robin Hood, 5-time international best-selling author; philanthropist, risk taker, and visionary who sees opportunities and creates markets where none existed before."
In short, he's everything but modest. Same goes for the mega-mansions McKinney creates. The portfolio of the Boynton Beach developer, whose dyed lion's mane of a hairdo would be at home on a Def Leppard reunion tour, includes a $135 million spec house the size of a mall.
And now, without sacrificing a square foot, he's gone certifiably green. "Acqua Lina" is his $29 million, 15,000 square foot, double-waterfront offering in Manalapan Beach. It's a monster of opulence, but the United States Green Building Council has OKed it as sustainable. While the idea of an environmentally-friendly uber-mansion might seem scoffable, check McKinney's claims:
* Solar panels, insulative characteristics, environmentally conscious lighting, ultra-high efficient appliances and air-conditioning that cut down on electrical consumption by over 50%. On certain days the home will be energy neutral, and will generate enough electricity to run two average size homes.
* A system that collects runoff water from the cedar roof and fills the water garden. The system collects enough reusable water to fill the average size swimming pool every 17 days.
* Ultra-high efficient air conditioning and purification systems that make the home's indoor air quality 2x cleaner than a hospital's operating room.
* Use of enough reclaimed and renewable wood to save over 10.5 acres of rain forest. Renewable woods used regenerate at an average rate of every 5 years vs. every 50 years for many hardwoods (one species of Colombian guada bamboo regenerates by growing up to 90 feet in a single year!).
* During construction over 340,000 pounds of debris and trash was recycled. Over 85% of all debris was diverted, and will never reach a landfill.
* An automated "bio-feedback" system that allows the owner to monitor resource consumption in real time.
Whoa, Colombian guada bamboo. It's a consience massage for the Lear Jet set.
