SAVE - Rooted in the environment, branching into the community
The Trails
The...
The SAVE House features an electric radiant floor heating system. Coils under the tile are heated, the heat rises and heats 100% of the air space within the home. Although the system is electric, the energy is collected by 8 photovoltaic cells on the property.
The second floor of the SAVE House is a loft. As heat rises from the floor below, the ceiling was built with angles to redirect the heat into the loft which lacks a heat source. There are only two circular double-paned windows in the loft, which remains plenty warm in the winter months.7 acres of wooded trails through SEEC
Double-paned Anderson windows in the SAVE House are filled with argon gas, which acts as an effective insulator. Heat from the inside (or cold from the outside) is not conducted through the windows, saving heat, energy and money.
The composting toilet in the SAVE House may be the most "controversial" feature, until you try it. The waste drops into a storage bin at the bottom of the toilet where it can be tossed with composting mixture using the crank handle shown. The compost breaks down waste through aerobic decomposition and is then directly applied to the SAVE flower gardens. A small fan attached to the toilet eliminates any smell and the system uses no water.
The SAVE House is built into the hillside to insulate the main floor and save heat and energy. The building was built with the windows facing South and the roof angled to funnel cold Northerly air over the building. Landscaping shrubs were also planted to act as a natural wind break. 
The South facing facade of the House is mostly windows to allow maximum sunlight and energy into the building. 
In the kitchen...
The kitchen stove-top...
The wastewater from the kitchen sink drains from the house to a constructed wetland to naturally filter the water before releasing back into the environment.
The constructed wetland...
Gravity-fed water system...
Gravity-fed hot water heater...Double click here to edit this text.Page Under Construction