Ultra-Energy-Efficient House

BusinessWeek has an article on an ultra-energy-efficient house in Santa Monica, CA which is the first home in the country to be given "platinum" status in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system (for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Some of the neat, energy-saving features of this environmentally-friendly house include:

- Living Roof: A garden of deer grass and other native plants will help insulate the house, keeping it cooler in the summer and retaining heat in the winter.

- Hot Water: A panel of glass tubes is positioned on the roof. Water pumped through the tubes is heated by the sun and stored in an insulated tank for use in showers and sinks. Hot water is also circulated through a series of plastic tubes embedded in the house's floors. This radiant heating system is more energy-efficient than forced air and doesn't spread pollen, dust, or germs.

- Recycled Water: Rainwater collected from the roof and yard is stored in a cistern buried under the house. So-called "gray water" from the sinks and showers is run through an underground filtration system consisting of asphalt, rock, and soil. Both sources are used to water the rooftop garden and grounds.

Be sure to check out the accompanying graphic and slideshow!