The 2,500-Square-Foot SmartHome built outside the Cleveland Museum of Natural History this spring consumes 90 percent less energy than a traditional home. "The SmartHome illustrates how [it] can be done in a very dramatic way," says David Beach, director of the GreenCityBlueLake Institute. The home is open to visitors through Oct. 1, when it will be relocated to a Wade Park Avenue lot and put up for sale. Here's a trio of the home's energy-saving features.
Window Treatment // Think of the house as a Thermos. Each window closes like a bank vault sealing airtight, so it doesn't take a lot of extra heat to maintain the temperature. "The heat from the stove or even body heat of occupants will help keep the house warm," Beach says.
Sealed Tight // The walls, which measure more than a foot thick, are packed with an insulation of foam and cellulose. Not only do the walls retain energy, they help block out noise for a much quieter home.
The Right Spot // The home was designed specifically for its Wade Park Avenue lot. Large, south-facing windows allow sunlight to enter and warm the house during winter months when the sun is lower in the sky, says Beach. The windows are also shaded to block sunlight during the summer, when the sun is higher.
