How can our home have the lowest environmental impact?

Building a home in 2001 was an opportunity to use design concepts that blend with natural surroundings and functions on natural resources. The natural surroundings are limestone and trees so the house has reclaimed limestone and a rounded wood roof.  The house functions with ground HVAC, the sun and the wind.  Window placement and roof overhang provide natural passive solar heat in the winter and shade in the summer.  A natural windbreak is provided by the garage and shop on the north side.  In-floor hot water radiant heat adds comfort and is a better heat distribution system.

The exterior stone and insulation are reclaimed and recycled. Wood products are replaceable from our woodlands and new tree plantings. The roof is organic.