A Healthy Home

The Wall Street Journal, known for its showcase of opulent and decadent homes, has featured a truly remarkable home in this Friday’s edition, which details the creation of a “Healthy Home” by one Minneapolis couple.  The idea for a truly clean energy emitting house occurred after homeowner Mrs. Greer was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer. Filled with mold, the couple sought to replace their home with one that would eradicate the possibility of containing dangerous toxins that are common through the standardization of home building. Enlisting the help of Vail, Colorado., architect Jack Snow of RKD Architects, the Greers’  6,800-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bathroom home has changed the paradigm of how houses may be built in the future.  Some of the green features of the home include, recycled countertops, large windows made from glass, which darkens when it heats up and subsequently helps to lower cooling costs in the summertime, and walls made from recycled wood fiber and concrete blocks, which cut down on the humidity inside of the home. 

This is not the first time the housing market and the green movement have collided. The steady growth of solar panel market has now becoming a mainstay in the design of modern homes with the intent of reducing energy costs. However the concept of a completely green house made from renewable materials is both innovative and inspiring. The Greers’ house is environmentally friendly, and truly a beacon of engineering prowess. Containing, “Curved stone and wood walls, custom artwork and dramatic copper accents,” the Greers’ house is avant-garde both aesthetically and for the green movement. For a closer look at the inspiring home, please follow the link.