The Coody's Energy Efficient Crib
By: Tom Yazwinski
Updated: May 3, 2012
A newly constructed home in Fayetteville may not look like anything
special, but from the foundation to the rooftop, it's the most energy
efficient house in the entire country.
"We wanted to build a home that takes care of us instead of us taking care of it," Dan Coody said.
Dan Coody and his wife built this place from the ground up. He wants it to serve as a model for other builders and do-it yourselfers.
"We wanted to build a home where they could touch, taste, feel, look and learn about all the systems and ask us what we would do again and what we wouldn't do again. What was a good investment and what was overkill," Coody said.
Perhaps the best investment was a series of solar panels on the roof. The Coody's also have solar thermal tubes to heat their water. When they have excess hot water, they can heat their floors with it.
Appliances are state of the art and energy efficient whether they are cooling food or heating it up.
Heating the home is a cinch. The Coody's have a very small unit to heat and cool their place. That's because they have six to 12 inches of spray foam insulation in the walls and attic.
All of these initiatives add up to make this home the most energy efficient home out there. After rebates and tax incentives, the Coody's are still paying just $100 per square foot and they won't have utility bills.
"We're not just saving a ton of money every month," Coody said. "We're also really dramatically reducing the carbon footprint we as humans put into the environment."
That is the ultimate goal.
"We wanted to build a home that takes care of us instead of us taking care of it," Dan Coody said.
Dan Coody and his wife built this place from the ground up. He wants it to serve as a model for other builders and do-it yourselfers.
"We wanted to build a home where they could touch, taste, feel, look and learn about all the systems and ask us what we would do again and what we wouldn't do again. What was a good investment and what was overkill," Coody said.
Perhaps the best investment was a series of solar panels on the roof. The Coody's also have solar thermal tubes to heat their water. When they have excess hot water, they can heat their floors with it.
Appliances are state of the art and energy efficient whether they are cooling food or heating it up.
Heating the home is a cinch. The Coody's have a very small unit to heat and cool their place. That's because they have six to 12 inches of spray foam insulation in the walls and attic.
All of these initiatives add up to make this home the most energy efficient home out there. After rebates and tax incentives, the Coody's are still paying just $100 per square foot and they won't have utility bills.
"We're not just saving a ton of money every month," Coody said. "We're also really dramatically reducing the carbon footprint we as humans put into the environment."
That is the ultimate goal.
