JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. – Carolyn Predmore doesn't mind saving money. But she says saving the earth is more important to her.
Now the retired Johnson County woman is doing both in her newly built green home. She recently moved in after nine months of construction.
Builder Jim Kostusik, with Redstone Homes, recently finished the home, wich has “extreme green” features in many places, adding up to energy and cost savings for Predmore.
The house, in unincorporated Johnson County, features solar panels that blend into the blue roof, and lots of skylights inside. ICF foam insulation inside the thick walls keeps the house airtight. Very little heat or air conditioning goes to waste. The radiant floors are designed to save heat because heating the floor is much more efficient than heating the air.
In the kitchen Predmore's induction stove saves energy by taking less time than a conventional stove to heat things up.
In the back yard Predmore would like to plant buffalo grass to conserve water, and add a wind turbine if her budget allows.
She says it's too early to tell how much money she is saving. The utility bills haven't come in yet. Without giving specific figures Kostusik says Predmore's substantial up-front costs are an investment that will be recouped over time.
Kostusik is listed by the Kansas City Home Builders Association as a "Green-Certified Professional."
Find more area Green-Certified Professionals here.
You can find many more earth-friendly tips on our
Living Green Section of our Web site!
