Moore NZE House

Evergreen, Colorado

Inspired by the architecture of the Pueblo Indians, the Moore House was designed by Doerr Architecture to create more energy than it uses, a net-zero energy (NZE) home. Mike and Ann Moore had property at an elevation of almost 8000 feet in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and wanted a 3500 square foot home with space to show their art collection. They wanted a home that captured the feel of adobe architecture as well as the views of the continental divide while treading lightly on the earth.

Architect Thomas Doerr alluded to Pueblo buildings with a composition of simple forms that have flat roofs, plaster walls, vigas (log beams), turquoise-colored window frames and a circular courtyard reminiscent of Native American spiritual spaces, kivas.

The Moore House achieves net-zero energy usage with passive solar design, ‘tuned’ heat reflective windows, super-insulated and air-tight construction, natural daylighting, solar thermal panels for hot water and space heating, a photovoltaic (PV) system that generates more carbon-free electricity than the house requires, and an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV) for fresh air. The green building strategies used on the Moore House earned it an amazing and verified HERS score of -3; one of a few houses in the US to ever do this.

Other green building strategies used in the Moore House include a grey water system, using salvaged and FSC certified wood, and using low-emission cabinetry and finishes.

  • Net Zero Energy Home
  • Passive Solar Design
  • Super Insulated
  • Solar Heating System
  • Solar Electric System
  • Green Materials
  • Natural Daylighting
  • Captures Views

This house was featured on the Colorado Renewable Energy Society’s 2010 Denver Area Solar and Green Home Tour and in the videos The Net-Zero Energy Moore House and the Passive Solar Simplified.

Learn more about this house here.

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