apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Click here to listen to the full interview, which is full of great information about green design and prefab building in the Midwest. A few things we learned from the podcast:

• Kaufmann is originally from the Midwest, and she cites the light and airflow in Midwestern barns as a major influence on her work.

• The Smart Home is designed for a standard 25-foot-wide Chicago lot. The home uses daylighting, cross-ventilation, and energy-efficient systems to consume less than half the energy of an average Chicago bungalow.

• Kaufmann uses 5 "eco principles" in the Smart Home and her other projects: 1) designing to use less, 2) incorporating eco-materials, 3) maximizing energy efficiency, 4) preserving water, and 5) creating a healthy environment free of toxic off-gassing.

To see the Smart Home in person, visit the Museum of Science and Industry’s Green + Wired exhibition, open through January 4, 2009.