In the early days, making homes eco-friendly and sustainable was not a task to be taken lightly, and, aside from turning off lights and using a human-powered lawn mower, there weren’t many options. The most obvious upgrade was the addition of solar panels, but these were of a size that could dwarf the average city lot, with cost of installation and permitting to match.
Today, the possibilities are nearly endless, and many are readily available at the nearest big-box store. In addition, unlike early attempts to add a significant green factor rendered a home, or parts of it, anyway, esthetically unpleasing, whereas current trends beautifully combine function and form.
The new EcoMetro Sustainability Tour takes place today, and highlights eight sites throughout the greater Twin Cities that have become beacons of sustainable living. The families and businesses will be on-site to discuss their achievements, various aspects of sustainability, and lessons learned. For those interested in increasing home efficiency, home- and business-owners can help tourists determing next steps to make life, home and business more sustainable.
For this one-day event (Saturday, May 31, 10am-4pm), a purchased guidebook acts as one ticket for the tour, children under 12 years old are free. Companion tickets can be purchased online. Guidebooks can be purchased in Minneapolis at Barbette, Red Stag Supper Club and Bryant Lake Bowl, and in St. Paul at Kendalls Ace Hardware on Payne Avenue (not at the Dale St. location).
With names like The Tiny Diner, and the Idea Farm, how could you not wonder what awaits on this tour? The details for of a few of the homes featured:
Passive House in the Woods--Hudson, Wisconsin
Green Features:
- House heated with no boiler or furnace, Certified Passive House
- Green roof
- Heat recovery ventilation system
- Solar hot water with visitor roof access
- Dual axis tracker with 4.7 kW solar PV, pole mounted
- 11” Exterior Insulation and Finish System (EIFS) façade
The Idea Farm--Afton, Minnesota
Green Features:
- 12 kW solar PV system with microinverters
- 12,000 gallon rain recovery system harvesting 4-8,000 gallons
- Outdoor hot and cold shower with a 2 mile view
- Engineered passive solar and passive ventilation systems
- Master shower filled with east and south light, orchids and a rain watering system
- Reclaimed white oak, hemlock, and long leaf pine floors and cabinetry
Howey Home--Roseville, MN
Green Features:
- All electric Nissan Leaf - charged through 8kW worth of solar PV systems
- Urban chickens for meat and eggs
- Hybrid Solar Thermal/Ground Source Heat Pump system
- Four solar hot water panels to provide space and water heating
- Solar oven and solar food dryer
- Solar Pergola for picnics
With the team's busy weekend schedules and client meetings, we won't be able to attend--but email or comment on Facebook if you take the tour, we'd love to hear your thoughts and impressions!
Related Posts
- One Habitat for Humanity donation at a time adds up... profiled in The Habitat Herald
- Eco-friendly home that changes to take advantage of sun, wind and rain
- Random tidbits of real estate wisdom
Angela Anderson, RE/MAX Results
The Team @ HomesMSP, for a greener Twin Cities -- Sharlene, John, Angela
