| When we were building our "dream home," we | | | | an investment in this luxury item by purchasing |
| had the resources to use our lifelong collection of | | | | high E factor windows made from wood, not |
| desires, and the knowledge garnered from years | | | | metal, which would conduct heat or cold from the |
| of experience; my husband, the architect of our | | | | outside into the interior. |
| luxurious home, and myself, a past editor of a | | | | One of the more expensive investments into |
| home magazine. | | | | "Green" living we made was the two Water |
| When the architect, James Mitchell, insisted we | | | | Furnaces or Geothermal heat pumps. The |
| install a hot water recirculating pump or "instant | | | | technology has been around for awhile, but the |
| hot water" I thought this was one luxury we | | | | higher initial investment keeps most homeowners |
| could do without, as the dollar signs danced in my | | | | from going this route. The lake that we live on |
| dreams during construction. When he told me it | | | | provides the "heat exchange" for cooling in the |
| was a "green" thing to do, I made him explain. It | | | | summer and heating in the winter. Wells can be |
| turns out a hot water recirculating pump actually | | | | dug for this process, and less reliable, depending |
| helps the environment by not sending a bunch of | | | | on your climate, are the units that use the ground |
| extra water down the drain. It works by | | | | for this heat exchange. Check out this website |
| circulating the water through insulated pipes | | | | for more information today: |
| delivering hot water immediately to where you | | | | When it came to appliances, we went all out with |
| need it. | | | | the most modern energy efficient models we |
| Some of the other "green" design concepts in the | | | | could find. Those popular front loading washer and |
| house include 3 foot overhangs on the eaves. It | | | | dryers actually are great energy savers. They |
| makes the house look more classic and luxurious, | | | | use a horizontal or tumble-axis basket to lift and |
| but it also helps with heat gain. We used natural | | | | drop clothing into the water instead of rubbing |
| materials wherever possible such as wood and | | | | clothes around a central agitator. Newly designed |
| stone. Better for the environment and better for | | | | top-loading machines can be energy efficient as |
| our health. | | | | well, be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR |
| We also used SIP panels in the timber frame | | | | before purchasing. Faster spin speeds, two-three |
| construction. SIP stands for Structural Insulated | | | | times faster during the spin cycle, extract more |
| panels. They are tremendously energy efficient | | | | water from clothes thus reducing dryer time and |
| and very attractive. The panels have six inches of | | | | energy use. |
| Styrofoam sandwiched between beautiful natural | | | | Looking for the Energy Star is important when |
| pine paneling on one side and plywood on the | | | | looking for other types of appliances as well. |
| other. We put a light wash stain on the pine to | | | | Viking, Kitchen Aid, Asko, Wolf, Sub Zero and |
| retain its natural color so it wouldn't "yellow" with | | | | Bosch are all name brands that you should be able |
| age. | | | | to find energy efficient. While you might be able |
| The house located on a steep hillside, gave us the | | | | to afford those higher energy bills, luxury trends |
| opportunity to use the stability of the earth's | | | | indicate consumers are looking for better |
| temperature to moderate thermal fluctuations. | | | | technology that is eco-friendly. By choosing |
| We live in a warm climate and this "nestling" into | | | | energy efficient technologies, appliances and taking |
| the earth keeps our air conditioning bill to a | | | | steps to optimize the performance of your |
| minimum as well. | | | | heating and cooling equipment, you are helping to |
| With a million dollar view, we opted for lots of | | | | prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air |
| glass in the house, but our view faces north, so | | | | while enhancing the comfort of your home. It's |
| we are not subject to heat gain. We also made | | | | the moral thing to do. |