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Karen asked us to build her a Net Zero Energy Home. As an Energy Star
Builder and in partnership with Energy Logic, our energy rating company,
we accepted the challenge and began the design process. The biggest
hurdle was windows. To build a Net Zero home you have to utilize the
principles of passive solar design—west facing windows are not part of
that design discipline. With Karen’s amazing west-facing views, we could
not give up those windows; however, with some careful use of large
west-facing outside covered patios and a 10KW photo-voltaic solar array,
we managed to get very close to the Net Zero goal. Karen even gets to
charge her Tesla sedan using the energy the home produces.
Karen wanted a Southwestern/Tuscan/Modern fusion for her home
style. We were able to create that in the interior and exterior style, but
in the end it was purely Karen. The home really reflects her personality,
and we built it just the way she envisioned it.