Blending sustainability with stylish design, these four distinctive homes prove that reducing a home’s carbon footprint doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury.
Spanish-Inspired Aerie
High in the hills of Santa Barbara, this majestic 4,261-square-foot residence combines Spanish inspiration with Built Green certification and forward-thinking solar power. Impeccably updated in 2010 with the finest materials and craftsmanship, it features living and entertaining areas with soaring ceilings, an owner’s retreat, three guest suites, French doors to breathtaking balconies and terraces, enviable views from nearly every room, and outdoor spaces that include terraced gardens, a vegetable patch, a firepit, and sun-drenched patios.
Sleek Houston Haven
Boasting clean lines, a minimalist palette, and open-plan living spaces, this stylish four-bedroom home is an inviting contemporary oasis. Highlights include a chef’s kitchen with Caesarstone counters, dining space with a buffet and wine chiller, a living area with a double-sided fireplace, thoughtfully positioned windows and skylights, a secluded owner’s suite balcony, and a screened porch overlooking the landscaped backyard and lawn. Completing an aspirational picture of modern living, the grounds feature water-conscious xeriscaping, and the home is positively HERS rated for its energy efficiency.
Lighthouse Point, West Bay
Lighthouse Point Resort was built using cutting-edge eco-friendly technologies and recycled materials, winning the prestigious Governor’s Award for excellence in sustainability and the environment. The property is designed to maintain a carbon-neutral footprint with solar technology and zero water discharge. Fabulous location on the secluded North West Point close to beautiful shallow reefs teeming with marine life perfect for offshore diving.
Arcosanti, Beach Bay
Arcosanti, a sustainable home where practicality meets purpose. Its light footprint and reliance on using the climate to power its needs is both admirable and sensible. The eco-friendly design, which uses best-practice technology, is evident in all elements of the home without losing any functionality or style. Made of insulating concrete forms, which ensure optimal temperatures year-round, Arcosanti features solar panels, a 3000-gallon UV and carbon-filtered rainwater harvesting system, low-voltage lighting, low-flow water, low-VOC paints, as well as using gas where possible. This home generates a utility credit, rather than a cost which is rare on island.