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Help brainstorm most efficient, self sustaining, low maintenance home!

So I'm trying to design my dream house that fits the criteria mentioned in the title and was looking for some input from others who might've already researched it. My goal is simple: if a house would need it or I'd want it, I want to do it in a manner that fits the title. For example a house needs a roof, would a metal roof be the best in terms of low maintenance and efficiency? Below are some of what I think are some good criteria so far. It's more or less a running list of what we want in our future home. I know some of these options may be more expensive than alternatives. I would sacrifice a little cost for less maintenance and durability over time.

General Requirements:
At least 2400 sq ft w/ 2 master suites w/ bathrooms and another 3 piece bathroom
Solar power w/ battery bank
Well water if available
brick/stucco/stone exterior - haven't decided
Septic system if possible
Hardwood (recycled) floors through entire house
Rain collection system from gutters
Tile showers – make walk-in with no doors if possible
Paint that can be washed off
3 car garage
Quartz counter tops – no mx required
Living fence – plant something if we need a fence like bamboo or shrubs etc. No mx required
Passive house plan – for cheap and efficient heating
Wood fireplace – self sustain heating if needed
Living pool – has plants to filter water. Very little mx required
Roof (metal) – might be lower mx if cost effective
Storage – lots of storage

Kitchen:
Brick oven & regular oven
Back splash
Large pantry with efficient storage (underground cellar under island if possible to keep food cool)
Convection stove
Quiet closing cabinets

Comments (4)

  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Roof - solar powered or photovoltaic on the roof? Talk to roof contractors about what the best surface is to put panels on... Insulation - whether you are in hot or cold climates insulation is your best friend... apply it to all walls, insulated windows and around pipes...Geothermal - probably better than solar - depending on where you live...(it can provide both warming and cooling air)Using grey water for irrigation purposes...Check zone laws for septic tanks and well waterUnderfloor heating which uses less heat but warms more efficientlyI love bamboo - but if you plant it for a fence, you will need the phylostachys species and they tend to run rampant. You can plant them but you need a rhizome barrier at least 1m into the ground to contain them inground... I can give you more details if you require....Best of luck
  • 12 years ago
    I would love some more info on the bamboo! How would you go about containing it to be used as a fence?
  • PRO
    12 years ago
    Love Bamboo - have over 500 plants in my garden and about 25 different species!1. First of all you dig deep - 100 cm into the ground and at least 60cm wide2. You buy a plastic rhizome barrier that is at least 5mm thick - this is so a teeny tiny root doesn't squeeze it way in and through and then expand and burst its way through. YOu need to buy special clips to close it for a full circle. (So you basically need to calculate the full perimeter of the ditch you are digging)3. Place the rhizome barrier in the ground leaving 2-3cm peeping above4. Add drainage in the form of vermiculite (or plastic non-biodegradable peanuts or corks!)5. Add lots of sand6. Add rough earth - nothing too fancy7. Add the plants and space them out so the tops of the plants are xcm below the rhizome barrier8. backfill the rest of the space9. Water abundantly and then three times a week for the first year till they establish. Then basically leave them10. You need to keep that little edge peeking out because runner rhizomes are too "lazy" to descend 60cm underground so they start going overground and tend to "snake" their way over the barrier. You can then spot them against the black and cut them off early on. Required each spring and sometimes in fall ANNUALLYLeave admire and enjoy.If you want it as a free standing fence without a wall against it, there are different types of species suited to open air and wind and elements so choose your bamboo carefully for optimal yield.
  • 12 years ago
    A free standing fence is the idea we had. Something living as a perimeter fence/privacy fence that would eventually take care of itself.