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Contents
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Exterior
- PhotoVoltaic slates on the three south-facing roof surfaces (garage, master bedroom, and belvedere) provide roughly 80% of the total electrical consumption for the year.
- Solar collectors are the primary source of heat for domestic hot water and for the exercise pool. They are a secondary source of heat for the radiant floor heating system.
- Porous and grassy pavers stop runoff into storm sewers and replenish the water table.
- A 1000-gallon cistern in the southeast corner of the lawn collects rainwater from the roof for watering the garden.
- Native grasses and other drought-resistant plants require less water than a lawn.
Interior--General Features
- Tight construction (e.g., framing, walls, roofing, insulation, caulking) was emphasized throughout the building process. The house has an Energy Star score of 92.7 and exceeds Energy Star certification requirements by 32%.
- Flooring is made of bamboo, a renewable product that can be harvested in five years. (A typical hardwood floor is made from 80+-year-old trees.)
- Wood used throughout the house came from sustainably-harvested forests.
- Compact fluorescent lighting is used in almost all parts of the house and reduces energy consumption by 30% (as compared to incandescent lighting).
- Triple-glazed windows provide excellent insulation from winter winds and summer heat.
- Window shades provide further insulation from winter cold and summer heat.
- Australian dual-flush toilets reduce water consumption by more than 5,000 gallons/year.
- High-efficiency ceiling fans have been installed in many of the rooms.
- Energy Star dishwasher and front-loading washing machine are more efficient appliances.
First Floor--Additional Features
- The airlock at the front door keeps cold air from entering the main part of the house.
- The tile used for the backsplash in the kitchen is made of recycled glass.
- The advanced combustion fireplace draws outside air in for combustion without losing heat from the room (i.e., rather than pulling warm indoor air up the chimney).
- Marmoleum flooring used in the back hallway (and the 2nd floor laundry room) is a biodegradable material made of natural ingredients.
Belvedere (3rd floor)
- In the summer, warm air rising up the stairwell from the ground floor and out the open third-floor windows provides natural stack ventilation.
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