Home Features

Here's some features that are interesting to me that I will attempt to incorporate into my new home...

• passive solar and environmental design
• solar photovoltaic electric power systems, including exceptionally low-cost owner installed systems
• solar water heating
• solar water distillation system, direct to the tap
• solar hot water instant demand systems
• hydronic radiant floor heating
• energy efficient appliances, lighting and other energy efficiency measures
• high energy efficiency windows and doors
• high efficiency heating and cooling equipment systems and strategies
• water efficiency and conservation
• water harvesting
• graywater systems
• waterless urinals
• long lasting no-maintenance metal roofs
• radiant barriers
• superinsulated ceilings
• blown cellulose insulation
• superinsulated walls
• internal mass walls
• colored concrete, brick paver, adobe and hand hewn stone paver floors
• recycled materials
• small is beautiful - and more cost-effective
• universal and lifetime design, aging in place
• accessibility, visitability and wheelchair friendly measures
• high tech electronic and communications systems
• healthy home, low allergen, clean air strategies
• non-toxic, low VOC materials
• low water use oasis garden
• solar pool heating (a BIG money saver)
• solar cooking

I originally wanted to have a rammed earth house built where the builder would do the walls, the roof, and foundation, and I would do all the finish work. It would incorporate many features of an earthship. The problem was that I couldn’t get any architects to talk to me about this type of house because they seem to be only interested in building huge, expensive homes for the super-rich. I know they can be done inexpensively, because Habitat for Humanity built several in Tuscon.
So, a rammed earth house is out for now, but may be in my future.