Net-Zero Energy Home | Evergreen, Colorado

Green building strategies included using salvaged material and a gray water system.

Green building strategies earned this net-zero home an amazing -3 HERS score.

Natural daylighting captures both views and energy in this net-zero home.

Green materials were used to create a home that treads lightly on the environment.

Colorado mountain home using a solar heating and electric system to achieve net-zero energy.

Net-zero energy home is inspired by adobe architecture.

Net-zero energy home that creates more energy than it uses.

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

Net-zero energy Colorado mountain home that creates more energy than it uses.

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 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 Studio 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 Studio 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 Studio include a grey water system, using salvaged and FSC certified wood, and using low-emission cabinetry and finishes.

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.

Moore Studio Evergreen, Colorado