The Taylors moved from the middle of town to a rural 4-acre parcel to include horses. They wanted their new home to be very sustainable with excellent indoor air quality and energy efficiency. Because of the gently sloping site, the home was set into the hillside and steps down 18” to the downhill side. The design assured that no toxic building materials, adhesives or caulking were used within the building envelope. With solar panels on the roof, all-electric appliances were used, including a heat-pump water heater that served domestic demand as well as the radiant floor. Being within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), it was necessary to design with a high-level of fire resistance. This was met with a metal roof design that eliminated the need for vents in the attic. The number of crawl space vents were reduced by incorporating a membrane over the exposed ground.
