While we are not sure of all of the specifics for this particular house, there are many measures that can be taken to make a building like this very efficient: 1. Double pane (and even triple pane) windows can provide a highly insulated window. 2. I am sure that the windows are low-e glass (or low emission glass) which uses a microscopic layer of metal oxide that lets the sun's heat and light pass trough the glass into the building while at the same time it blocking heat from leaving the room. Here is a link for information on energy efficient windows: http://www.efficientwindows.org/lowe.cfm 3. Radiant heating, possibly used in combination with a forced air system, is most likely used in this case. In floor radiant heating is very efficient and economical to run (though on the pricey side to install), and is especially appropriate in a house such as this with large areas of glazing and concrete floors. Not to mention the fact that any building must conform to certain energy regulations which would prohibit the construction of an energy sucking monster in the first place.

Thanks for your comments, Kevin. As I mentioned, we are not aware of the all of the specifics for this house, but anything specific you have to share is great. We simply wanted to provide some information regarding the materials and methods (no miracles implied) that are currently available. Glass with an r-value of 10 is available... not too shabby. Whatever the Crowders and their architects chose to use is up to them, at least within the State of Colorado's energy efficiency requirements. Anyway, it is a cool house, and if you can afford a $640,000 house, you can figure out a way to make it comfortable. Who said a house needs to be balmy inside anyway... put on a sweater for all I care. ;-)

Thanks for taking an interest is our project, its great to see it getting such spicy dialog. As James surmised, the house is heated with a radiant floor system (no forced air however) and has double pane Low-E glazing. The floors themselves are 4” of concrete which also act as thermal mass for radiant heat gain. According to Bart, the owner, the highest heating bill for this house was $600 one month, and the high bills only occur in Dec, Jan or Feb when Breckenridge has most of its overcast days. Even on a day when it is 0 degrees if the sun is shining the heat does not come on. We visit Bart and Linda often and the house extremely comfortable in winter and by no means chilly. The house also lives very well in the summer and is not air conditioned. The awning windows are situated low in the large glass living room area allowing the cooler air to enter and the adjacent stair tower also acts as a solar chimney drawing the hot air up and out. It may seem surprising to some, but this house is comfortable all year round :)

the practical part of me always looks at glass windows in houses, concrete floors, and so on and thinks $$$ too. but the aesthetic side of me looks at drywall, pile carpet, oak front doors with brass framed glass and shivers with ickiness. this house is inspiration. it's eye-candy. it's what those of us in the $300-400K realm (I live in an expensive area--that's cheap here) daydream about. If it weren't for these architects pushing the boundaries of what is normal building materials, we all get stuck with mcmansions, drywall, carpet, oak-turned-railings on our stairs and I can go on and on, but let's just say it looks awesome and I want it.

it's an old comment, but i'm just getting to this site recently. and i couldn't agree more with some of his comments... even the word 'mcmansion' inspires 'hivish' irritation for me -- ok, hivish is not a word but i think that you get it. ultimately, i'm mostly trying to say that it's refreshing to continue to discover communities with modern sensibilities such as this. all of the old american, victorian, traditional sensibility is just nauseating to me. to gresla's comments, i'd say... you just have to get organized. i agree the minimalism is beautiful, mentally liberating. i live in a small studio in NYC and have adopted a minimalist sensibility myself (almost out of neccessity). i've invested reasonably in space saving implements and have tried to get rid of things i just don't use. you kind of have to be creative. (every now and again, some problem presents itself, which gives me a new opportunity to figure how to revise somewhat to keep the space open, un-encumbered). and with a new development, there is so much opportunity to design storage/shelving that keeps things out of view and out of the way -- in an integrated sort of way.