This custom, high-performance home was designed and built to a LEED for Homes Platinum rating, the highest rating given to homes when certified by the US Green Building Council. The house has been laid out to take maximum advantage of both passive and active solar energy, natural ventilation, low impact and recyclable materials, high efficiency lighting and controls, in a structure that is very simple and economical to build. The envelope of the house is designed to require a minimum amount of energy in order to live and use the home based on the lifestyle of the occupants. The home will have an innovative HVAC system that has been recently developed by engineers from the University of Illinois which uses considerably less energy than a conventional heating and cooling system and provides extremely high indoor air quality utilizing a CERV (conditioned energy recovery ventilation system) combined with a cost effective installation. Lawrence Smith