Green House on the Prairie
Between Washington-on-the-Brazos & Independence, TX
Prairie Lea is a country home designed for a retiring couple who wanted a modest and relaxed, yet artful country lifestyle while incorporating green building science, low maintenance, exceptional energy efficiency, special furniture and unique art from places they have lived overseas. Designed for the easy installation of a future PV solar system for self-sufficiency purposes (and rainwater harvesting system if desired), their guests can come and go using separate guest entrances while easily connecting inside to indoor living activities.
The house is designed to prevent seeing a nearby cell phone tower and to prevent hearing noise from a nearby highway at most used outdoor spaces and porches off the main living area, and in the upstairs master bedroom. It is also designed to allow extensive day-lighting while excluding the sun’s heat during the overheated seasons. By employing the architect’s Design for Life Passive Sustainability & Resiliency concepts, passive Venturi assisted ventilation, integrated with natural lighting, is introduced into the home to further extend the amount of time artificial lighting and cooling is not needed. While this house was built before there was a LEED for Homes program, it could have easily qualified for a Silver rating and perhaps even a gold rating for the original construction without the addition of a PV solar system and rainwater harvesting system.