This week we celebrated our third anniversary in our home. It’s our first house and I still love it, but three years feels like a long time considering our history. In the 13 years before buying this house, we inhabited nine different apartments across four states. (They exist in my memory as a string of street names: Daniel, Goodwin, Clark, Madison…)
That’s an average of 1.4 years per residence. So, it’s no wonder I am getting itchy for new surroundings. I’m not ready to move, but I’m beginning to compile a wish list for my next home. And since February is my month of fun, I’m dreaming of an eco house built from scratch.
Straw bale house photo by colros/Flickr
Construction
Let’s begin with timber and straw bale construction, plastered with nontoxic, mold-resistant American clay walls. Straw? Yes, it’s come along way since the three little pigs. I first read about straw bale houses fifteen years ago, and I remain intrigued. Building with straw bale is affordable, requires minimal energy and provides excellent insulation (and supposedly you can do it yourself). Earthen walls can be sculpted over straw bales to create beautiful shapes and unique design features. I see curved walls, alcoves and window seats in mine!
Inside
There will be abundant natural light and circulation from eco-friendly windows and skylights. Photovoltaic panels on the roof supply our electricity. We’ll receive warmth from a wood stove and radiant heating installed beneath floors of bamboo and cork. Cork and bamboo are both fast-growing renewable materials. Cork is also hypoallergenic, durable and fire retardant. Floor coverings will include natural fiber area rugs in sisal, jute and wool as well as Flor™ carpet tiles for splashes of color.
Our bedding will be made of natural materials: wool, rubber and organic cotton. (I’ve always wanted to get a Lifekind mattress.) Wool regulates body temperature better than down and retains less moisture (less chance of mold and bedroom allergens).
The kitchen will exhibit a gorgeous, eco-friendly countertop (I like the PaperStone or recycled glass ones in this slideshow) as well as cabinets and other furniture built from sustainable woods or wheat sheet – a formaldehyde-free fiberboard made of wheat chaff. As we do now, we’d use low flow water fixtures, no VOC paints and Energy Star appliances.
Outside
There will be no high-maintenance lawn. Instead the eco-friendly landscape will consist of gardens (veggie, flower, rain and zen), composite decking, trees and native shrubbery. Plus an area for outdoor entertaining.
While a hot tub seems like an energy-hogging luxury, there is a new trend in making hot tubs eco-friendly. The ones from Hydropool are apparently carbon neutral!
Sofie’s input in all of this? She asked for her own garden area and space for a horse. We are dreaming, after all.
What’s in your eco dream house?
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