Peruvian lily and Chinese fountain grass share a soft pink cast, but their contrasting forms create lots of interest. Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Nick McCullough
This is an example of a traditional front yard landscaping in Columbus.

Billy Goodnick
This is an example of a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Soft and wispy, Grevillea 'Long John' draws the eye and plays off the red shutters. photo by Billy Goodnick
This is an example of a small eclectic drought-tolerant and full sun front yard stone garden path in Santa Barbara.

Billy Goodnick
Inspiration for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Shorter plants keep the view to a pond and golf course intact. As the ground cover fills in maintenance will only reduce.
Inspiration for a timeless exterior home remodel in Chicago

Vegetable gardens can be an exploration in art. Billy Goodnick
This is an example of an eclectic landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Better to plant a few varieties boldly than to use every crayon in the box. Billy Goodnick
Inspiration for a traditional landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Billy Goodnick
This is an example of a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Warm colors heat up a fall day as Mexican Marigold and the turning leaves of Liquidambar meet up. Billy Goodnick
Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Don't throw it away or add to the landfill. Mundane materials like recycled concrete slabs can be imaginatively put back into service, like this low retaining wall . Billy Goodnick

Choose plants with bold, sculptural forms and distinctive colors and let them snuggle up to each other for a killer combo. Billy Goodnick
This is an example of a contemporary landscaping in Santa Barbara.

Sophisticated echoing of walls and foliage color Billy Goodnick
Photo of a contemporary landscaping in Los Angeles.

Billy Goodnick
Photo of a mid-sized mediterranean full sun stone garden path in Santa Barbara for summer.

Agave 'Sharkskin' and Senecio mandraliscae (blue chalk fingers) Billy Goodnick
Inspiration for a mediterranean drought-tolerant and full sun hillside landscaping in Santa Barbara.