Savvy and sophisticated (and green): this high-tech home proves that green is practical.

The specs on Ronald and Margaret Hofstetter's home read like a gadgets and gizmo guide to green building: a highly efficient EPA class two wood-burning, closed-combustion, heat-circulating, zero-clearance fireplace: an on-grade slab underlain with rigid sheet insulation: and the list of complex terminology goes on. When it came to building their home, file Hofstetters turned over every technical stone to come up with a great green product. and they've got certifications that award their hard work. But, more importantly, they have a home that meets "all of the wants and needs they had for file space.

The Energy Star[R]-certified and Gold-Level North Carolina HealthyBuilt house is designed as indirect-gain, passive solar; the design utilizes a south-facing, two-story sunroom with extra glazing and heat storage capacity to capture and store solar heat, which is then distributed throughout the house mostly by convection. Heating is one area of construction where the Hofstetters went all out to ensure the home's design worked to its full capacity and worked for them. In order to give preference to the morning sun, the house was positioned five degrees east of true south, and additional trees to the south of the home were cleared to increase access to direct solar radiation in the winter. Additionally, the roof overhang is sized to prohibit direct solar rays from entering tile home during the months of May through mid-September, but permit the deep penetration of direct rays from late fall until early spring.

Heating is primarily provided through solar radiation. On overcast days, the wood-burning fireplace provides additional heat. According to the Hofstetters. the fireplace can provide enough warmth to heat their entire home. even when exterior temperatures reach as low as six degrees. Radiant floor heating throughout the house and garage also helps ensure that internal temperatures stay comfortable for the homeowners. The open design of the rooms. Energy Star ceiling fans and open window ventilation keep the home cool in warmer months without the use of an air-conditioning system.

If there's any doubt that the Hofstetters went to great lengths during construction to ensure the efficiency of their home, one need look no further than tile eleven-inch thick walls and extra caulking that was applied to above-ground sides of the house, which were also wrapped in Tyvek[R] to prevent air leakage before the siding was put in place. Exterior windows are low-E windows, and most windows are on the south side of the home--a design recommendation for solar homes.

The Hofstetter home also works ingeniously to conserve water, and, in high-tech fashion, functions almost robotically to do so. In addition to flow restrictors on faucets and shower heads, each of the home's two bathrooms (which are at a distance from the boiler) have a timer. When activated, the timers recycle hot water on a separate loop pipe back to the hot water tank. This ensures that water is not wasted while waiting for the hot water to arrive at the faucet or showerhead.

During construction, many measures were taken to protect the existing ecosystem of their home site's varied topography as the couple does uphold the National Wildlife Federation's "Healthy Yard Pledge." The Hofstetters purchased the 7.2 acres on which their newly constructed home lies in 1980. Since then, they worked to re-vegetate the site by planting native tree seedlings and saplings. Adjusting the road location during construction preserved these and pre-existing native plantings. They also currently maintain up to eight bird feeders on the property and have received "Certified Wildlile Habitat" status.

Because the Hofstetters were involved in every process during the creation of their new home--from design to on-site work--they have created a green home that truly works for them. "This is now very much our house," they both say, adding, "we love tile bright, open feel of our solar house and its setting." The Hofstetters also note that the energy-saving concepts, construction and equipment put into place have all been working well for them. Although they've only been in their new place for a little over a year, they plan to call it home for as long as possible.

Top Green Points

Efficiency

Energy Star certified, Energy Star[R] appliances, electronic-ballast fluorescent lights; indirect-gain, passive solar design; wood-burning stove and radiant floor heating, flow restrictors on faucets and showerheads

Low Toxicity

Continuously operating, forced-air radon-removal system; formaldehyde-free interior materials, low-VOC finishes on cabinets and woodwork (including wood flooring)

Environmental

Native landscaping, "Certified Wildlife Habitat" status, vegetable garden

SPECIFICATIONS

Location

Todd, NC

Designer

Modeled on experimental house of NC State University with modifications by homeowners and Myrick Rozier and Joseph Crocker

Builder

Marcus Renner, Appropriate Building Solutions

Size

2,909 total square feet, which includes a 506 square-foot finished garage/workshop

Price tag

$325,000 for construction, with additional costs for appliances and water well and pump system

Completed

December 2005