Eco Cred: 8 Homes That Lift the Energy-Efficiency Game
Read about the specific building practices of going green from homeowners around the world
Laura Gaskill
11 June 2018
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
When it comes to making energy-efficient design choices, there are lots of things you can do without renovating (or moving), including choosing appliances with the energy efficiency ratings, switching to compact fluorescent or LED lights, and improving insulation and windows.
But if you are looking to renovate (or build from scratch), even more options begin to open up. With the thoughtful use of energy-efficient architecture and systems – such as passive solar design, radiant heat and rammed-earth construction – even a large home can end up more efficient than a traditionally built home of the same (or even smaller) size. Get inspired by eight homeowners from our My Houzz series in the US, Australia and Canada who have made big choices that led to significantly lower energy bills and a lighter footprint on the land.
But if you are looking to renovate (or build from scratch), even more options begin to open up. With the thoughtful use of energy-efficient architecture and systems – such as passive solar design, radiant heat and rammed-earth construction – even a large home can end up more efficient than a traditionally built home of the same (or even smaller) size. Get inspired by eight homeowners from our My Houzz series in the US, Australia and Canada who have made big choices that led to significantly lower energy bills and a lighter footprint on the land.
1. Solar powered in Oregon
Who lives here: J.S. and Robin May
Location: Portland, Oregon
What makes it efficient: When building their new home, J.S. and Robin May installed solar panels on the south-facing roof and put in a solar hot water heater. “In the summer, even with air conditioning, our electric bill isn’t more than US$8 per month,” J.S. says.
That’s interesting: When the Mays moved onto the property, there was an old rental unit that needed to be torn down. Instead of adding the wreckage to the landfill, they had the old house dismantled and donated to the Rebuilding Center of Portland. Indoors, the Mays were able to use the wood from two black walnut trees that needed to be removed from their backyard to create hardwood flooring for the home.
Who lives here: J.S. and Robin May
Location: Portland, Oregon
What makes it efficient: When building their new home, J.S. and Robin May installed solar panels on the south-facing roof and put in a solar hot water heater. “In the summer, even with air conditioning, our electric bill isn’t more than US$8 per month,” J.S. says.
That’s interesting: When the Mays moved onto the property, there was an old rental unit that needed to be torn down. Instead of adding the wreckage to the landfill, they had the old house dismantled and donated to the Rebuilding Center of Portland. Indoors, the Mays were able to use the wood from two black walnut trees that needed to be removed from their backyard to create hardwood flooring for the home.
2. Radiant heat in Massachusetts
Who lives here: Gail Karn and her husband, architect Robert Karn of Consilium Urban Design and Architecture
Location: Sudbury, Massachusetts
What makes it efficient: In an area with hot, humid summers and freezing-cold winters, heating and cooling costs (especially for an older home) can be astronomical. When renovating their 1950s bungalow, Gail and Robert Karn installed an efficient radiant heat floor system and supplemented it with south-facing windows to collect solar heat. In the summer, lush oak forest surrounding the home provides shade, keeping the home cool; in winter, the combination of passive solar windows and efficiently heated floors keeps the house toasty at a fraction of the cost of the pre-renovated home.
That’s interesting: Excess heat is collected from the air on the upper floor of this three-level home and circulated back to the lower floors using a high-velocity air system.
5 benefits of concrete floors
Who lives here: Gail Karn and her husband, architect Robert Karn of Consilium Urban Design and Architecture
Location: Sudbury, Massachusetts
What makes it efficient: In an area with hot, humid summers and freezing-cold winters, heating and cooling costs (especially for an older home) can be astronomical. When renovating their 1950s bungalow, Gail and Robert Karn installed an efficient radiant heat floor system and supplemented it with south-facing windows to collect solar heat. In the summer, lush oak forest surrounding the home provides shade, keeping the home cool; in winter, the combination of passive solar windows and efficiently heated floors keeps the house toasty at a fraction of the cost of the pre-renovated home.
That’s interesting: Excess heat is collected from the air on the upper floor of this three-level home and circulated back to the lower floors using a high-velocity air system.
5 benefits of concrete floors
3. LEED leader in Utah
Who lives here: John Sparano and Anne Mooney of Sparano + Mooney Architecture and their twin daughters
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
What makes it efficient: This modern home earned Utah’s first LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating, from the US Green Building Council) Silver certification, thanks to its fire-resistant exterior, compact footprint and overall energy efficiency. Thoughtful siting on the lot takes advantage of the sun’s path, and radiant heat floors provide efficient warmth during Utah’s chilly winters.
That’s interesting: John Sparano and Anne Mooney took a year to analyse the site, tracking summer and winter solstices and studying the surrounding environment in each season.
Who lives here: John Sparano and Anne Mooney of Sparano + Mooney Architecture and their twin daughters
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
What makes it efficient: This modern home earned Utah’s first LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating, from the US Green Building Council) Silver certification, thanks to its fire-resistant exterior, compact footprint and overall energy efficiency. Thoughtful siting on the lot takes advantage of the sun’s path, and radiant heat floors provide efficient warmth during Utah’s chilly winters.
That’s interesting: John Sparano and Anne Mooney took a year to analyse the site, tracking summer and winter solstices and studying the surrounding environment in each season.
4. Passive house in California
Who lives here: Annette Ng, Steven Tjiang and their teenage daughters, Meeya and Leila
Location: Palo Alto, California
What makes it efficient: Starting from scratch allowed homeowners Annette Ng and Steven Tjiang to get exactly what they wanted in a home, which for them meant a family home built upon a set of Passive House principles – the aim being to reduce energy consumption. Airtight construction, well-insulated windows and walls, and carefully positioned window openings work together to create an interior that can remain comfortable year-round without conventional heating or cooling, which translates into significant energy savings.
That’s interesting: This home also features a heat recovery ventilator system. This system continuously extracts moist air from wet rooms (such as the kitchen and bathrooms), and then filters and recirculates it to balance the air throughout the house. This process can recover up to 90 per cent of the heat in extracted air, adding up to significant energy savings.
Who lives here: Annette Ng, Steven Tjiang and their teenage daughters, Meeya and Leila
Location: Palo Alto, California
What makes it efficient: Starting from scratch allowed homeowners Annette Ng and Steven Tjiang to get exactly what they wanted in a home, which for them meant a family home built upon a set of Passive House principles – the aim being to reduce energy consumption. Airtight construction, well-insulated windows and walls, and carefully positioned window openings work together to create an interior that can remain comfortable year-round without conventional heating or cooling, which translates into significant energy savings.
That’s interesting: This home also features a heat recovery ventilator system. This system continuously extracts moist air from wet rooms (such as the kitchen and bathrooms), and then filters and recirculates it to balance the air throughout the house. This process can recover up to 90 per cent of the heat in extracted air, adding up to significant energy savings.
5. Water wise in Pennsylvania
Who lives here: Gino and Mali Torriero and their sons, Luca, 7, and Nello, 4
Location: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
What makes it efficient: In addition to other energy-efficient features (like radiant heat floors), Gino and Mali Torriero installed a greywater system in their new home. This system collects rainwater from the roof and channels it into two large tanks buried underground. After going through a filtration system, the water is used for the home’s toilets, laundry and exterior hoses.
That’s interesting: The exterior siding was burned by hand before installation, emulating a traditional Japanese technique called shou sugi ban. The burnt layer acts as a protective coating on the wood, repelling water and insects. “It also looks amazing and has a very organic feel,” says Mali.
Who lives here: Gino and Mali Torriero and their sons, Luca, 7, and Nello, 4
Location: Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
What makes it efficient: In addition to other energy-efficient features (like radiant heat floors), Gino and Mali Torriero installed a greywater system in their new home. This system collects rainwater from the roof and channels it into two large tanks buried underground. After going through a filtration system, the water is used for the home’s toilets, laundry and exterior hoses.
That’s interesting: The exterior siding was burned by hand before installation, emulating a traditional Japanese technique called shou sugi ban. The burnt layer acts as a protective coating on the wood, repelling water and insects. “It also looks amazing and has a very organic feel,” says Mali.
6. Rammed earth in South Australia
Who lives here: Jolie and Mark Thomas; their children, Jaya, 14, Kael, 7, and Lila, 5; their dog, Bessie, and parakeet, George; and six chickens
Location: Aldgate, SA
What makes it efficient: With its rammed-earth walls, sunny north-facing windows and solar-heated water pipes embedded in concrete slab, the home of Jolie and Mark Thomas works hard to capture and store heat. This combination of features is so successful that, even on the hottest days, all the homeowners need to do to cool down is to crack open a few windows and turn on the ceiling fans.
That’s interesting: The house and water are heated together, with the domestic hot water also heating the concrete floors in winter. The water is solar-heated and boosted by a high-efficiency heat pump.
See more of the South Australian home
Who lives here: Jolie and Mark Thomas; their children, Jaya, 14, Kael, 7, and Lila, 5; their dog, Bessie, and parakeet, George; and six chickens
Location: Aldgate, SA
What makes it efficient: With its rammed-earth walls, sunny north-facing windows and solar-heated water pipes embedded in concrete slab, the home of Jolie and Mark Thomas works hard to capture and store heat. This combination of features is so successful that, even on the hottest days, all the homeowners need to do to cool down is to crack open a few windows and turn on the ceiling fans.
That’s interesting: The house and water are heated together, with the domestic hot water also heating the concrete floors in winter. The water is solar-heated and boosted by a high-efficiency heat pump.
See more of the South Australian home
7. Ground source heat in Dallas
Who lives here: Chuck and Diane Cheatham and their Chinese Crested dogs, Wizard and Ruby, along with chickens and koi
Location: Dallas, Texas
What makes it efficient: Besides high-performance windows, spray-foam insulation and an 68,000-litre cistern that collects rain runoff from the roof, Chuck and Diane Cheatham’s home boasts geothermal heating and cooling. Not to be confused with geothermal energy, which harnesses natural high-heat sources underground to generate electricity (Iceland uses geothermal plants to produce a good portion of its electricity), geothermal heat pumps (aka ground source heat pumps) gather heat absorbed at the earth’s surface.
That’s interesting: Mechanised window treatments throughout the house are set on timers to sync with the sun and optimise heating and cooling during the day – especially important during those hot Dallas summers.
Who lives here: Chuck and Diane Cheatham and their Chinese Crested dogs, Wizard and Ruby, along with chickens and koi
Location: Dallas, Texas
What makes it efficient: Besides high-performance windows, spray-foam insulation and an 68,000-litre cistern that collects rain runoff from the roof, Chuck and Diane Cheatham’s home boasts geothermal heating and cooling. Not to be confused with geothermal energy, which harnesses natural high-heat sources underground to generate electricity (Iceland uses geothermal plants to produce a good portion of its electricity), geothermal heat pumps (aka ground source heat pumps) gather heat absorbed at the earth’s surface.
That’s interesting: Mechanised window treatments throughout the house are set on timers to sync with the sun and optimise heating and cooling during the day – especially important during those hot Dallas summers.
8. Efficient overhaul in Toronto
Who lives here: Sabrina and Wolfram Esser and their 2-year-old daughter
Location: Toronto, Canada
What makes it efficient: Sabrina Esser, a licensed architect, clad the existing brick exterior with a custom rain screen system, which allowed her to achieve high insulation standards without sacrificing essential interior living space. The house also utilises a radiant heat floor system, and the roof is ready to add photovoltaic panels or a solar water system in the future.
That’s interesting: A greywater toilet-sink combo takes fresh water that comes out of the tap and drains it into the toilet for flushing.
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Who lives here: Sabrina and Wolfram Esser and their 2-year-old daughter
Location: Toronto, Canada
What makes it efficient: Sabrina Esser, a licensed architect, clad the existing brick exterior with a custom rain screen system, which allowed her to achieve high insulation standards without sacrificing essential interior living space. The house also utilises a radiant heat floor system, and the roof is ready to add photovoltaic panels or a solar water system in the future.
That’s interesting: A greywater toilet-sink combo takes fresh water that comes out of the tap and drains it into the toilet for flushing.
TELL US
If you found this story helpful, like it, save it, and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
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It's smart to use energy-efficient appliances. It begins with LED lighting fixtures and even airconditioning units with power inverters. What would the technology of tomorrow bring?
So inspiring. Thank you.
Switching to energy-efficient LEDs is an easy way to boost the energy-efficiency game.