What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
1. Earth contact walls
2. Well designed atrium skylight
3. Passive solar location and design
4. Stone building product
5. American Clay walls
6. Our property a Certified Wildlife Habitat from the National Wildlife Federation.Property Description
You'll not believe this is Central Kansas at this quiet home which is bounded by woodlands and Sand Creek on the West and three sides of traditional hedge rows including stands of Eastern Red Cedar, Osage Orange, and other established trees. However, you'll also enjoy beautiful golden Kansas
wheat fields directly to the East.
This earth contact home is situated on a slight Southeast to Northwest diagonal to take full advantage of the sun's path unique to this location. During the winter months sunlight streams through the leafless deciduous trees and into the house through generous windows facing the Southwest. In the summer months when the sun's path is high, the large overhangs prevent the sunlight from entering the house.
The exterior of the rest of the house consists of earth berms. Inside the house, the three large bedrooms align along the berms and maintain a fairly consistent temperature--not cold in the winter and cool in the summer. Each of the bedrooms opens with expansive glass to the large central atrium.
There is much stone in this house. On the outside that which is not bermed is thick poured concrete walls clad in Kansas limestone. The large atrium and the entryway are covered with Arkansas flagstone that continues to the outside entrance and walkway around the house. That same Arkansas Flagstone covers the large hearth at one end of the great room. That large wall area at that same end of the great room is Kansas limestone similar to the exterior stone. The kitchen floor is dark blue Italian stone tile. The floor of the great room is wood laminate of American chestnut, plank design. Two of the bedrooms are carpeted. The third bedroom/office has ceramic floor tile as do the bathrooms.
The walls of the great room, kitchen, atrium and entryway are covered (2009) with American Clay Earth Plaster with zero VOC’s. It is friendly to good health, to the environment and it nicely ties into the variety of stone surfaces.
Look up and you'll notice two other unique features. First and foremost is the large atrium skylight that was completely renovated in 2003. It is a 16-foot square aluminum frame with 24, separate, square and triangle shaped, bronze over bronze double domes. Lots of light fills the atrium and the bedrooms through the expansive glass. It warms the Arkansas flagstone in the winter yet keeps out most the summer heat aided by four ventilation fans located in the "cupola" of the atrium.
Throughout the rest of the house (except for the laundry and furnace rooms) the cathedral ceilings are covered in natural, cedar siding. Gorgeous!
The roof of the house is 30-year asphalt shingles installed in 2003.
In addition to the natural, passive solar heating and cooling there is a Carrier heat pump, installed in 2004, and a Vermont Castings wood stove in which we burn logs from the abundance of Osage Orange trees on the property. Other high quality, utility appliances are the water heater and water softener.
New granite countertops were installed in the kitchen in 2009. These complement original Italian style, antique tiles that are the back splash and a lower counter. The Dacor electric cook top is new (2009). Other kitchen appliances (all of which convey) include a Kenmore dishwasher and refrigerator, a Thermador crisper, trash compactor, and double oven. Beautiful, durable, oak, custom-built cabinets (Becker Cabinet and Furniture) are featured in the kitchen and in the master and guest bedrooms and the main bathroom. A large pantry is next to the kitchen.
The large patio includes a Jacuzzi hot tub and a custom built Shade Tree canopy system.
The backyard is well landscaped with a variety of plants and flowers. There’s a 12-20ft garden and storage shed and a deep, irrigation well.
Our local realtor is Maggie Morgan and her telephone number is 316-284-4000.
Neighborhood Description
Our home seems quite secluded situated as it is along Sand Creek with its adjacent woodlands. We are at the corner of Kansas Road (only 1/2 mile long here) and 36th Street--a quiet country road. To the east and to the north is a traditional Kansas wheat and soybean farm. Directly to the west is a small, quiet and mature public golf course. To the south are three, quiet neighbors with similar lots.
North Newton, home to an outstanding liberal arts college--Bethel College--is 1/2 mile west and 1 mile south. Newton, home to one of the better school systems in Kansas is two miles South. One of its attendance centers is the unique and award-winning Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center just up the road from us. I-135 (although you can barely tell it is there due to the woodlands barrier between it and our house) is 1/2 mile to the west. That's a straight shot to Wichita the largest city in Kansas. There really are no traffic jams.Market Area
We live in the county--Harvey County. North Newton, home to Bethel College, is one mile south. Newton, a town of 20,000 and the county seat is two miles south. Wichita, including Mid-Continent Airport is 30-40 minutes away.School District
Location of Home or Land
Rural
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Forced Air - Heat Pump |
| Cooling System | Conventional Heat Pump |
| Ventilation System | Part of Cooling System |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | yes |
Energy & Water
| Water System | Municipal |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Construction Type | Rammed Earth |
| Exterior Finish | Masonry Wood Other |
| Interior Finish | Earthen Plaster |
| Interior Paint | Low VOC |
| Floor Material | Carpet |
| Roof Material | Asphalt Composition Shingle |
| Window Material | Wood Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Other |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | attached |
| Number of Cars | 2 |
Add to Favorites