SERENA STURM ARCHITECTS

Nestled in a clearing adjacent to a nearby forest preserve, this large home is a showcase of innovative resource efficient strategies. The home is solar heated with large windows and super-insulation which helps keep the home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. A stained concrete floor slab retains heat from the sun during the day and releases it at night. Other strategies include energy efficient fluorescent lighting, sun shading trellises, a heat exchanger, and water saving plumbing fixtures-which combine to reduce typical energy requirements by half. Non-toxic building materials from local sources and native landscaping also contribute to making a home which is comfortable, bright, quiet and cost effective.