Even though my wife and I undertook a whole-house renovation of our 1909 Victorian a few years ago, we’re already thinking about our next project.
Energy efficiency

GO Homes are prefab, panelized, and follow a Passive House approach. In this home, a breezeway connects the garage and house (Photo: Trent Bell).
How a small architecture and construction firm in Maine became a leader in the prefab and passive House movements

Originally built 200 years ago, this 100-acre Vermont farmstead features traditional design with contemporary exterior details (Photo: Eric Roth Photography)
Stephanie Horowitz, of ZeroEnergy Design, talks about how builders and designers can dip into energy-efficient homes and embrace sustainable building

Running the siding horizontally emphasizes the home’s linear form, while the front porch wraps around one side of the entry becoming a walkway that offers glimpses of pond views for anyone using it to reach the garage (Photo: David Fell).
This Cap Cod home achieves energy efficiency and high performance with common materials

Dogtrot by CLB Architects has an asymmetrical gabled roof that mimics the distant mountain peaks, adding a contemporary edge to the building’s traditional form (Photo: Matthew Millman).
Custom homes that are durable, comfortable, and healthy for their owners and the planet

Placing the 6 kW solar array on the detached garage allowed architect and homeowner Donald Powers to calculate the ideal roof pitch for maximum effectiveness. | Photo: Anthony Tieuli / This Old House
Architect Donald Powers wanted his 100-year-old cottage to be the epitome of energy efficiency. So he transformed it into a net-zero home.

Los Angeles-based Landry Design Group collaborates with structural and civil engineers on hillside homes to determine if the best seismic reinforcement is concrete caissons sunk into the ground, or a mat-slab foundation in which the home’s weight is evenly distributed across the foundation. Photo: Erhard Pfeiffer
Resilient design creates homes that can survive natural disasters and stay functional in the aftermath

Nordeast Nest in Minneapolis has a south-facing roof that is sloped to accommodate a future solar array. The porch roof is also sloped. These elements bring a contemporary flair to the mix, says architect Tim Eian of TE Studio. RJ Stegora was the builder. Photo: Corey Gaffer Photography
Custom infill projects require architects and builders to play nice with neighbors and planning officials

Located along California’s Central Coast, this modern farmhouse has views over the hills toward the ocean 8 miles away, and patios on both sides to capture cross breezes. Semmes & Co. Builders built the home, which was designed by Gast Architects. Photo: Elliott Johnson
A range of smart building practices ensure long-term livability and good business sense
These custom-built homes make a strong design statement while delivering a high level of energy and resource efficiency.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that more than 20,000 homes across the United States have earned certification through the LEED for Homes program.

Canadian study says wood could be good building material for tall structures
A new study examines the potential of wood — typically used only in low-rise building — as an option in taller structures.

Toll Brothers and EchoFirst announced that Echo solar systems will be deployed as the state-of-the-art energy management system within new Toll Brothers communities in Arizona.