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