A number of features have been added to the house to make it more efficient, such as the use of strapping (to reduce thermal bridging), insulating foil as a vapour barrier, and lots of insulation in the walls and ceiling. Local materials were used for constructing the house, and no trees were cut down in order to accommodate its construction.
A green house was built into the southern side of the house, providing space to grow vegetables year round and heating during the winter. Passive solar works too well during the at times during hot summer days, which requires covering the windows. When the greenhouse produces too much heat, such as during the summer, a system to promote natural ventilation is used to cool the house.
