Basements are called "indoor swimming pools" in Florida and second stories tend to be called "wind borne debris". Long, low ranchers are the norm. (although we do see piling houses at the beach and some 2 story McMansions) The architects usually put the laundry on the opposite end of the house from the master bedroom so you have a lot of pipe between them.
I do think that if you just had 20-30 gallons of storage in the attic you would have all the hot water you need most of the year here for free.
