5 Green Homes That Won Gold

EcoHome magazine's 2nd annual design awards chosen such of houses that are not only environmentally exceptional, but look good at the same time.

Award winning green homes have:

• a subdivision of affordable homes in Hawaii;
• a passive-solar home in Carmel, Calif., that's so energy efficient i.e. it has no air conditioning;
• a major remodel of a 260-year-old home on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts that also had to meet architectural-preservation standards.

Here are the five award-winning Eco-friendly homes:

01.
Project: Caterpillar House | Location: Carmel, Calif.
Architect: Feldman Architecture | Builder: Groza Construction



The Caterpillar House in Carmel, CA | Photo: Joe Fletcher Photography

 The Caterpillar House sits on a bluff in the Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, Calif. Its east-west, slightly curved layout maximizes passive solar gain, and additional energy savings come from concrete floors and rammed-earth walls that act as a thermal mass to protect against temperature fluctuations. Overhangs shade the south- and west-facing low-e windows. Ceiling fans and cross-ventilation also work to eliminate the need for air conditioning. A 27,300-gallon rainwater harvesting system supports all site irrigation, and all the plantings are native and drought-tolerant. The house has sustainability-certified cabinetry and reclaimed cork flooring. It has received LEED-Platinum certification.



02.
Project: Kumuhau Subdivision | Location: Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii
Cost: Homes range in price from $225,000 to $325,000; average $121 per square foot
Architect: Armstrong Development | Builder: Armstrong Builders

The Kumuhau subdivision on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. | Photo: David Franzen,

Kumuhau subdivision in Waimanalo on the island of Oahu got praise not only for its green attributes, but also its price tag -- the five floor plans in the 45-home subsidized project cost from $225,000 to $325,000. Contest judges applauded the developers for taking a risk by forgoing air conditioning -- the homes use whole-house fans to exhaust hot air into the vented attics. Each house uses solar panels to supply about two-thirds of their electricity, and the homes are wired to accommodate more solar panels and to charge up an electric car. Rainwater is collected in 51-gallon storage for drip irrigation.



03.
Project: Nantucket Island home remodel | Location: Nantucket Island, Mass.
Cost: $273 per square foot | Architect: Rosenberg Kolb Architects
Builder: Knapp Construction



Nantucket Island remodeled home | Photo: Steve Moore

It wasn't enough that the owner of a 264-year-old home on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts wanted an addition that was conservation-minded; the house also had to pass muster according to local historic-preservation guidelines. The extensively insulated and sealed 260-square-foot addition included a kitchen, bathroom and entry, and new mechanical and ventilation systems; the project restored the original single-pane window sashes to conserve energy while meeting historical architectural standards.




04.
Project: GO Home | Location: Belfast, Maine
Cost: $150 per square foot | Architect: GO Logic Homes
Builder: GO Logic Homes



The GO Home in Belfast, Maine | Photo: Trent Bell Photography.

The GO Home in Belfast, Maine, is 1,300 square feet of near-zero energy use. It's the 12th house in the country to earn the rigorous Passive House designation from the Passive House Institute. Its LEED-Platinum certification is pending. Built with structural insulated panels and passive-solar features, it's expected to save up to $170,000 in energy costs over 30 years -- almost what it cost to build, according to EcoHome.




05.
Project: Celo Residence | Location: Celo, N.C.
Architect: Samsel Architects, Asheville, N.C. | Builder: Sunspace Homes, Burnsville, N.C.

Home in Celo, N.C | Photo: David Dietrich Photography

The contest judges especially liked the pairing of energy technology with the use of natural materials inside and outside a 1,538-square-foot home in Celo, N.C. The house won praise for tree preservation; rainwater storage for irrigation; pervious walkways, patio and driveway to control water runoff; and the use of drought-resistant plants. The home also features sustainability-certified wood shingles and locally harvested stone. The home's walls are filled with spray-foam insulation and the windows and doors use low-e (low thermal emissivity) argon-filled glass.

Special thanks to Mary Umberger.