Evergreen, Colorado

One of the greenest, most self-sufficient, solar, homes in the world. Designed & built by Dan Chiras, world reknown author of The Natural House, The Solar House, and more. Inside growing area. Earth-sheltered. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer.
Green HomeHealthy HomeNatural HomeSustainable HomeEnergy Efficient HomeEarthship HomesPhotovoltaic (PV)Solar - PhotovoltaicFor Lease
$537,500Asking Price (USD)
$3,054Annual Property Tax
$200Annual Utility Cost
2,925Square Feet
3 / 2Beds / Baths
2.0 acresLot Size
1996Year Built
Green HomeProperty Type

Mortgage Calculator

Purchase Price ($)Down Payment
%
Loan Amount
$430,000
Annual Interest Rate
%
Loan Term (years)
Monthly Mortgage Payment
$3,095.44

What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?

This home was built with virtually all green and natural materials and finished with nontoxic paints, stains, and finishes. Most of the walls are plastered with earthen plaster. The cabinets and vanities are made from 500 year old barn wood. It was re-milled and stained and finished with nontoxic products. Much of the floor space is covered with tile made from a high-quality recycled material. The remainder is carpeted with an environmentally friendly carpet made from polyester derived from chemicals extracted from corn. The home is heated by the sun. As noted earlier, this home is earth sheltered, which keeps it warm in the winter and cool in the summer with very little additional energy. It also makes for an extremely quite house. The house is superinsulated with cellulose insulation and rigid foam in some places. The walls are R-22 and the ceilings range from R-50 to R-72. Even the garage is insulated and fitted with a solar hot air collector that helps keep it warmer. The small solar electric system we installed in 1995 provided all the electricity we needed. This home has been off-grid for many years. We recently connected to the grid. The refrigerator is the most energy-efficient refrigerator in the world. It's a SunFrost. All the lights are LED or CFLs. When I lived there, we used about 1/12 of the electricity of standard home that size. The washing machine is a front-loading Frigidaire that uses very little water and energy. We hung our clothes on the line, but you could install a gas dryer.

Property Description

This spacious green home will take your breath away when step in the front door on a sunny day. Designed as art to live in and featured in Solar Today and Home Power magazines, this home is built from rammed earth tires and straw bales. One of the first things you will notice are the three large indoor planters--one is 40- feet log and the other two are about 15-feet long each. They're in the hallway that leads from the main entryway to the bedrooms and are bathed in sunlight. We have grown tomatoes, flowers, spinach, and even bananas indoors at 8000 feet above sea level! The planters would be for growing herbs and other medicinal plants. Much of the home is earth sheltered, which helps you and your family stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. I used numerous healthy, green building materials to build the home. The house has a huge kitchen with plenty of cabinets and counter top, even enough room for a small table. It also has a large large dining room and living room. The house is super insulated and heated naturally by the sun (passive solar). I burn one cord of wood for backup heat each winter. Consider renting to own, I'm open to the idea. You must prequalify for a loan, however, so I know you have the resources... The home was entirely off-grid until I rented it out a couple of years ago. It is now grid-tied, but if you want to go off-grid, all you need to do is disconnect. I also installed a brand new well 300-foot well in 2014. Previously this home was supplied by rainwater catchment. While off-grid, I paid no electric bill for 14 years! I will replace the off-grid solar electric system with a grid-tied solar system before closing, or install new batteries if you want to go off-grid. While off grid, the only utility bill I paid was for natural gas and it typically ran $14 to $17 per month -- but that includes a $10 per month service fee! This is truly one of the greenest natural homes in the world, featuring an off-grid solar electric system, passive solar heating and cooling, super insulation, earth sheltering, straw bale and rammed earth tire construction, natural plasters (including American Clay products), gray water recycling, no-VOC paints, stains, and finishes, recycled tile, carpeting made from polyesters produced from corn, rainwater catchment, water-efficient shower heads and faucets, minimum wood use, indoor growing area, outdoor raised bed planters, super-efficient SunFrost refrigerator and freezer, metal roof, insulated and solar-heated garage, wood stove and backup radiant floor heat, built-in recycling center, and backup generator. Since we can make this transaction without a realtor, I'm willing to deduct about half of the 5 - 7% realtor fee, helping both of us out, and reducing your cost by around $13,000 to $18,000, depending on the sale price. For more info, please contact me, Dan Chiras, by e-mail and I'll send you a thorough description of the house with more photos. I'll also send you a copy of a few articles about this house, including one in my Environmental Science textbook.

Neighborhood Description

Evergreen Meadows is a mountain subdivision with homes sensitively nestled in the pine forests and meadows. It is quiet and peaceful with fabulous views of the mountains. The community has picnics and community yard sales. Most people keep to themselves, there are some very social creatures here, too. Bicyclists can head out the driveway take the long loop, which takes about an hour, a short loop that takes 20 minutes or an intermediate loop that takes 30 minutes and never leave the hood.

Market Area

Evergreen is quiet town nestled in the Foothills of the Rockies, and enjoys clean air and crisp blue skies. The landscape is adorned with Ponderosa pine and is rich in wildlife, including elk and mule deer. Outdoor oriented families will enjoy the home's convenient access to hiking, camping, mountain biking, downhill and cross-country skiing, kayaking, rafting, fishing, and picnicking. There are plenty of stores, coffee shops, and restaurants in the area, too, including King Soopers, Safeway, an

School District

Evergreen is part of the Jefferson County School District. The home is within a few miles of Marshdale Elementary School, West Jefferson Middle School

Community

The people who live in Evergreen and comprise the community are generally friendly and helpful. It is great place to raise children. The schools are excellent. They have excellent teachers and lots of extracurricular activities! I have found an amazing amount of very progressive thinkers and an equal amount of well...how shall I say this...differently enable thinkders.

Location of Home or Land

Rural

Elevation of Home

Mountain

Air Quality

Agriculture in Areano
Industry in Areano
Air Pollution in Areano
Pesticide Freeyes
Fragrance Freeyes
Cleaned with Green Productsyes

Interior Environment

Heating System
Solar - Passive
Wood Stove
Cooling System
Passive Cooling
Ventilation System
Other
Whole House Filtration
None
Whole House Vacuumno

Energy & Water

Energy System
Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar - Photovoltaic
Water System
Well
Wastewater System
Septic System

Construction Information

Exterior Finish
Stucco
Interior Finish
Cement Plaster
Gypsum Board - Sheet Rock
Earthen Plaster
Interior Paint
AFM
Floor Material
Carpet
Tile
Roof Material
Earth
Window Material
Wood Dual Glazed
Insulation Material
Recycled Newsprint

Garage / Car Port

Garage / Carportyes
Garage Typeattached
Number of Cars2
Garage Area500 sqft

Property Website

Website:

Contact Seller

Listing ID : 19552