This residence was designed to minimize its impact on the natural environment in many ways. All interior spaces incorporate daylighting and cross ventilation strategies. By reducing the need for artificial lighting, cooling loads are also reduced and overall occupant comfort increased. The home is designed to avoid solar thermal gain during the summer and capture passive solar heating during the winter. These features, along with the use of expanding foam insulation, minimize the need for mechanical heating and cooling.

The carbon footprint is further reduced with the use of a 12 kilowatt-hour photovoltaic array to produce electricity and a ground source heat pump which provides efficient heating and cooling as well as the majority of the home’s domestic hot water. The design relies on a variety of regional and low embodied energy materials such as locally quarried Leuders limestone, mesquite flooring, FSC plywood, and fly-ash concrete. High performance windows help the home to retain its heat in winter, and remain cool in summer. Rainwater is collected from the roofs and provides all of the home’s potable water needs. Initial irrigation needs are being provided by city water but once the drought tolerant landscape has been established, the clients’ goal is to have net zero water use.