To advocate environmentalism and to practically own it, are two altogether different things. Mr. Doub, the owner of Ecofutures Building in Boulder, Colo., is the person who aimed at crafting environmental sustainability into new dwellings and retrofitted ventures.
Despite his wife’s initial objections and certain financial stringencies, he built his dream home, Solar Harvest, to practice what he preached. For this purpose, available technology and recouped materials were meticulously made use of. He arranged 12 used solar panels and the 6,000-gallon underground hot-water tank for heating system. Though installing super insulated windows and solar electric roof panels were a bit costly, but it was nullified owing to energy feed from the local power grid through sunny spells. Lastly, in order to provide a futuristic aspect, gas appliances were replaced with the electric.
Soon, the house attracted various clients like Ronald M.Abramson, the president and chief executive of NexGen Energy Partners. Mr. Doub has designed Abramson’s mansion combining wind and solar power that’ll go on to generate 80 percent more energy than the house’s requirements. Abramson home is the first to meet a sliding level of acceptable energy use as a part of new Boulder County regulations. Since Solar Harvest, many Ecofutures projects begun with the building cost a 7 to 9 percent more than usual.
Really, Mr. Doub deserves kudos for leading by self example and making Solar Harvest a model for the environment lovers.
Source: Nytimes
