This newer home was built next to their family farm, and is set into a south-facing hill. The owners took advantage of this feature to include passive solar design elements, such as large windows on the south side of the home, and with large overhangs to provide shade during the summer. The north wall of the basement is buried by the hill, and the south-facing walk-out basement leads into the yard. The family finds this home very comfortable and efficient.
They installed an air-to-air heat pump as their primary source of heating and cooling. They slightly oversized the heat pump, so that it could run efficiently and meet their needs easily. A wood stove in the basement to provide back up heat during the coldest months — below −10 °C (14.0 °F) — using up to 2 cords of wood per year. They also circulate this wood heat with a fan. Together, these systems keep the home very comfortable.
It should be noted that efficiency was in mind from the very beginning, as measures to reduce waste were taken during home construction. By reusing what would otherwise have been thrown out (such as cut 2 × 4″) to meet other construction needs, savings were realized for both construction and waste disposal.
