Woolwich, Maine, Carbon Neutral House

3 bedroom, 1200 sf, solar hot water, PV awning (on grid), local materials, no voc finishes. Energy use: 1 cord of wood (less than $250 sustainably harvested from own'er's land) total for heating per year.

The clients are a young family who realized that they could spend more time together and less time working to pay the mortgage if they downsized and became as self-sufficient and energy-independent as possible. They spent the summer building their new house, and plan to grow much of their own food. They simplified their belongings and found a small older car does almost as well for local trips as a new Prius but with a much shorter payback time.

They want to teach their children another way of life. Photos by Will Morgan.