apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

While building your very own green home from scratch might seem out of reach for most people, Krista and her husband Kenneth made their dream a reality by saving up, working through the research and design for 4 years, earning a grant from the Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Energy Efficiency to offset the cost of the solar heating systems, and finally...building! The home was built for $100 per square foot, not including the cost of the photovoltaic system.

A few of the green systems that they've incorporated so far include photovoltaic panels, a rainwater catchment system, recycled glass countertops, low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, recycled siding, and zero-VOC finishes. Future plans include landscaping the site with a raingarden, wetland, and native prairie.

The Nutters use their home to educate the community about green building. They've hosted the 2007 National Solar Tour along with seminars for Green Energy Ohio, and they plan to offer public tours of the native landscaping once it's finished. To read more about the progress of this home, check out the Nutter Residence Blog.