West Green Homes

5
Comments
Lancaster townhouse kitchen

A Net-Zero Townhouse in Oakland

Feb 18, 2010 | Oakland, California

Not many projects achieve HERS 0, especially on a small urban infill site. But that's the score achieved by the Lancaster Live/Work Townhome, a recently completed (Fall 2009) project in Oakland, Calif.

0
Comments
This green bath focuses on comfort and convenience

Convert an Attic into a Luxury Bath

Jul 17, 2009 | Seattle, Washington

Leslie and Heather, the owners of a 100-year-old 1 1⁄2-story house in Seattle’s Capitol Hill district, were tired of hiking downstairs in the middle of the night from their attic bedroom to the first-floor bathroom. To make matters even more inconvenient, the laundry room was still farther below in the basement. Leslie and Heather wanted to simplify their lives and their floor plan by putting all three spaces on one level.

1
Comments
Deep overhangs deal with sun and rain

Sustainable Materials and Solar Power in the Southwest

Jun 15, 2009 | Santa Fe, New Mexico

Bau-Biologie—a construction philosophy focused on using natural materials to build healthy homes—originated in Germany, but in the USA, one epicenter is just outside of Santa Fe. Here, architect Paula Baker-Laporte and Robert Laporte, a master builder, have designed and built many such homes through a partnership they call EcoNest. Their work has helped generate new building codes and standards.

1
Comments
Bright interiors

Production Platinum Homes

May 5, 2009 | Las Vegas, Nevada

Villa Trieste is Pulte Homes' response to a number of things—an overtaxed regional infrastructure; a challenging real estate market; and consumer demand for more durable and energy-efficient homes.