The first line of defense in energy savings is in the house’s design, construction, and insulation. The designer of the home explains it this way:

All of natures, creatures instinctively rely on the round shape for warmer shelter. A bird's egg, its nest, a rabbit den - all are proof that it takes less wall area to enclose an equally sized round, than a square or rectangular space. As such, a round house uses at least 30% less outer wall area than an identically-sized conventional house. Incorporating our energy-conserving layouts and passive solar features, the highly energy-efficient, clad Pella™ wood windows and our unique construction techniques of interlocking components make our structure a super-efficient, airtight home; achieving energy savings of up to 50% over conventionally built homes. Our components are designed for insulation factors of R-22 in the floor, R-22 in the walls and R-36 in the roof.

   Not only is the design right, additional steps have been taken to make the house even more energy efficient. For example, the external cedar siding was added as additional protection as well as a cost/labor saving feature and ¾ of the internal walls are covered with an insulating, acoustical wall covering.

Power and Utilities

  This energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly house runs on passive solar, electric, propane gas and generated power.

  The house was constructed in 1990 as an “all electric” home and still has the wiring and capability to be all electric if it is desired. In 1997, the electric dryer, water heater, and range/oven were replaced with propane gas appliances.  Also, two propane gas-powered alternate sources of heat were added at that time. Gas appliances are known to last a great deal longer than electric ones.

  In 2004, a $7,500 SPV-80 Gillette Standby Generator operated with propane gas was installed. This generator operates with the flick of a switch and creates enough electrical power during an outage to light every room and run most of the appliances except the heat pump.

 The house is located on the community’s sewer system so there’s no septic system to maintain or worry about. Water is supplied by the Captain’s Cove Utility Company.

 Appliances

   High energy usage and cost can be greatly reduced by not only design, construction, and insulation but also by the choice and selective use of appliances.

  The house had new XL-13 Trane Weathertron Heat Pump installed in 2005. It can be used for 100% of the heating and cooling needs of the house; however for maximum energy efficiency it is used for cooling and as a heating supplement. Because of the passive solar design and insulation, heat is seldom called for until after the sun goes down, even on cold days. Use of the propane gas wall heater on the first floor and stove/fireplace on the second floor plus ceiling fans also can reduce heat pump use in the colder months. Heat pumps provide very cost effective cooling but in this home it is only used occasionally because of its waterfront location that takes advantage of the ocean breezes, shading from the passive solar design, and elevation of the house.

  A Whirlpool washing machine was installed in 1997. In 2005 a new Energy-star Amana bottom freezer refrigerator was installed.