The development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to a full array of smart home technologies. Slusher’s retrofit included a Smarthome automation system that controls lighting, heating, cooling, solar blinds, and audio and security systems—all of which Slusher could control remotely through a dedicated app downloaded to her smartphone, tablet, or personal computer.

The smart home system installed in the home includes a full range of personalized settings and programmable operations (such as those offered by the smart thermostat for the home), which allow Slusher to save on energy bills and improve the home’s overall energy efficiency.

All of the windows were replaced with double-paned, energy-efficient, and ENERGY STAR rated windows filled with argon gas. These windows bring in abundant daylight, which reduces dependence on artificial lighting without sacrificing energy efficiency. The highly insulated windows also reflect heat from the summer sun to reduce cooling loads during warm weather. A multi-story window in the breakfast room opens up into a ground-level garden designed around a 6,000-gallon Koi pond, one of the many unique and environmentally beneficial green areas located throughout the home.

The energy-efficiency upgrades didn’t mean Slusher had to hold back on certain luxuries. The master bath, for example, includes several luxury (yet sustainable) features, including a steam room, a beautiful concrete sink, limestone walls, and river rock floors.

Reclaimed Materials

To reduce the embodied energy of the ambitious renovation project, Slusher and her team incorporated different types of reclaimed and salvaged materials. For example, much of the older flooring throughout the home was replaced with a beautiful white oak recovered from an old barn torn down in nearby Ohio. From a big picture perspective, Slusher’s decision to use salvaged wood flooring reduced the demand for lumber on our over-burdened forests; Slusher’s choice also reduced the embodied carbon footprint of the home by using a product from a nearby supplier.