The problem was that their builders did not look at the home and site holistically, missing opportunities that would have made the home more functional. As they discovered after living in it, it was a much bigger house than two people needed. They also had a long commute to and from work each day.

It's All About Setting Goals

The primary goal for the Hansons was to have a truly Net Zero energy home, but it didn't stop there. They wanted the house to be Net Zero, including the ability to charge their two electric vehicles, their electric lawnmower and snowblower. 

A second goal was to have a smaller, beautiful and comfortable home, one that they could live in for the rest of their lives—so everything the need is on the main level. 

Third, they wanted to make sure the home was healthy and that it did not contribute in any way to something that could harm other people's health. They focused on using healthy materials, e.g., paints, cabinets, and adhesives that do not off-gas. They also thought about the site. They wanted to manage stormwater on their property and even pull some of the water off the adjacent roads. This would prevent it from running through the streets, where stormwater can pick up pollutants that end up in our drinking water. 

So, what was the driving force behind these lofty goals? As Mark says, he has always lived by the axiom, "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." He continues, "I just believe we should leave this world a better place than we found it."

Designing the Home

Having the goal of Net Zero energy meant the house needed to have a tight envelope, be well insulated, and south-facing to take advantage of the sun's heat during the winter. It also needed to be designed for solar panels, so there are two large south-facing roofs that hold an 18.9-kilowatt (kW) system of panels. Able to plan ahead (and unlike their first house), they made sure there were no vents on the south-facing roofs.

To meet their stormwater management goal, the egress windows in the basement have large window wells, with boulders as a retaining wall, and native plants for soaking up runoff water. The large basement windows also let in light and warmth from the southern sun in the winter. 

The bigger component, though, is the rain garden swale on their property. With the help of the city, they were allowed a few curb cuts to let stormwater from the street run onto their property. The small bit of grass that they do have is tall fescue, a species of turf that does not have to be mowed or watered as much as conventional turfgrass. 

Building on Kate's training in holistic health, they designed a beautiful meditation circle in the back yard. 

The Cool Factor x Two

But the real treasure here is priceless: this home serves its community in two ways: 

1. It produces clean, renewable energy from the sun. It often provides more than what the Hansons need, so they return it to the grid and let the neighborhood benefit.
2. It manages all of the stormwater that runs off the roof and hardscapes on site. Due to the curb cuts, it manages more than what their site produces, providing a service to the neighborhood and surrounding communities. 

Who would ever have thought that a home, through its very design and construction, could be of service to its neighbors? Thank you, Kate and Mark Hanson, for your generosity—that kind of thinking is truly inspirational!