 |
The residents of this riverside
Aspen home are very conscientious about living an energy and fuel-saving
lifestyle. They realize that by being sustainable, they are leaving
a legacy for their children.
Their home was designed to use passive
solar techniques, and an active solar hot water system provides
domestic hot water and additional heat in the winter. Their home
and lifestyles also integrate other fuel and energy-saving features.
|
 |
The attached greenhouse provides
an optimal growing environment for fresh herbs, fruits, vegetables
and flowers. The excess heat from the greenhouse is circulated under
the crawl space as needed to supply heat to the main house.
The outdoor deck above the greenhouse
is on the warm, south-side of the house, so sitting outside year-round
is pleasant. Excess rain water drains from the deck into the greenhouse
below to add needed moisture.
|
 |
The roof pitches all slope toward
the sides of the house, so snow will not endanger residents sitting
on the deck or walking on the outdoor patio. The overhang above
the southside windows is sized to prevent over heating in the summer.
|
 |
When the house feels
cold, the greenhouse doors are opened to let the stored heat flow
from the greenhouse to the main house. Fresh herbs, vegetables and
flowers, grown in the greenhouse year-round, are easily accessible
through these doors. |
 |
The solar hot water panels are mounted
on the guest cottage. This system provides the domestic hot water,
in-floor radiant heat, and space heating radiators in the main house
with heat. The small PV panel in the center runs the pumps for the
system.
|
 |
Elizabeth hangs her laundry
on this outdoor clothesline in the summer. She loves the crisp freshness
of fabrics dried in the sun, and loves the fact that she's saving
a lot of energy by not using her clothes dryer. |
 |
This wood-burning stove is used
for additional heat and boiling water in the wintertime.
The in-floor radiant heat runs under
the entire floor on the ground level of the house, including under
the tile in the showers. The architectural design of the home allows
for heat to flow upwards to the bedrooms and is supplemented by
space radiators tied into the solar system in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
|
 |
All bedrooms feature
south-facing windows to provide plenty of light and heat, and are
operable to regulate temperatures in the summer. |
|
|
The radiator tied into the solar
heating system on the left provides space heat to the bedroom.
The laundry room on the right features
energy-efficient front-loading washing machines, and a hanging rod
above to dry clothes year-round.
|
 |
This bathroom radiator,
also tied into the solar system, provides space heat and is used as
a towel rack to quickly dry the towels and keep them warm. |
 |
The open vestibule off the side
entrance of the house is where these mostly bike-commuters store
their bicycles. Elizabeth uses her bike for transportation as much
as possible to keep her fuel use and car-pollution contribution
to a minimum.
On the north side of the vestibule,
a bear-proof recycling bin cabinet stores recyclables.
|
 |
These reusable shopping
bags are by the door and ready for shopping trips. No need to get
a new batch of "paper or plastic." |
 |
Elizabeth's compost pile
consists of yard and food waste. Compost piles cut down the amount
of waste that goes to landfills, and produce rich soil for planting
the garden and greenhouse. |
 |
For the days she needs
to travel farther than her bike can carry her...she drives a Jetta
TDI, which averages 46 miles/ gallon. |
