The entire home was designed to take advantage of many natural energy saving opportunities. The house is located on a fairly level area on the south side of a hill so that it is protected from the cold northwest winds of winter by the upward sloping forested terrain to the north and west. The few windows on the north of the house have triple panes. The house is constructed with 2x6 framing to provide extra insulation. A one inch layer of foam provides even more “R” value. When the winter sun is low in the sky it floods through the numerous large double paned windows on the southeast, south, and southwest of the house-heating the marble on the kitchen/dining room floor and brick on the pool room floor. This warmth is transferred to the tons of concrete underneath providing a huge heat sink which helps keep the indoor temperature comfortable.

The house is heated in three zones–main level, second level and pool level by four electric heat pumps. The pool water heat pump is solar assisted. There is also a wood burning stove in the center of the home which has been the main source of heat for the life of the home. There are one or more ceiling fans in each room to circulate the heat from the wood burning stove. The stove may be used as little or as much as dictated by the preferences of the owners.

In the summer the foliage on the trees and the overhang on the southeast, south and southwest of the house keep the sun from directly entering the house. The large heat sink provides cool floors to also help moderate the temperature in summer. The heat pumps add any additional cooling necessary.