Sustainability

Ecological sustainability was extremely important to our family during design and after we moved in.  Some of the sustainable features of our house include:

• Can be almost entirely heated by wood (there is a Rinnai space heater as backup in the main space, and a smaller Rinnai heats the basement)
• Large woodshed for storing and drying wood
• Tight envelope that allows the house to stay warm or cool without a lot of mechanical inputs
• Insulated, magnetic shades on the first floor that prevent heat loss through windows
• Passive solar design elements such as large windows shining on thermal mass (tile and stone) on the south side, with small north-facing windows
• Solar panels that more than offset our energy use and pay us $400 to $500 per quarter ($1600 to $2000 per year) in SREC credits
• A basement root cellar that allows for winter storage of local produce
• Finished basement floors from local pine
• No central heating or air conditioning; the lack of soffits for ductwork make the space heating get upstairs more effectively
• South-facing front yard garden space
• Many edibles in landscaping: peach tree, cherry tree, Asian pear tree, hardy kiwi, raspberry, blueberry, asparagus, strawberry
• Opportunities to share tools, equipment and a commitment to sustainability with cohousing neighbors