This off-grid mountain retreat is designed to sip energy, resist wildfire and return to the forest at the end of its life.

When Andrew Michler began designing his award-winning passive house, he knew he had a tough client: his family. The MARTaK Passive House, located near the one-stoplight town of Masonville, Colo., was to serve as an off-grid family retreat. Consequently, it had to be flexible, accommodating and architecturally interesting, as well as perform in a tough climate.

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Visible changes blended with hidden additions make this home sustainable from top to bottom.

Photos by Robert M. Cain, Architect

CALL IT A CASE OF AGE before beauty. When a 1950s ranch-style home just outside of downtown Atlanta began to show its years, the owners decided it was time for a “redux.” The 2,100-square-foot dwelling was completely gutted and renovated to include several sustainable features and eye-catching design work on the interior and exterior.

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The kitchen and bath in this LEED Platinum home in Hawaii feature water-efficient fixtures and healthy, low-maintenance finishes.

PHOTOS BY AUGIE SALBOA

THE WA'AHILA RIDGE custom Craftsman home, designed by Hawaii-based Archipelago Hawaii and built by MOKULUA HPB, marries design with building science in a truly collaborative process. Completed in 2013, it is one of the only LEED Platinum-certified homes in the state and has achieved a HERS rating of 15.

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The kitchen in this energy-efficient new home combines style with water-saving fixtures, energy-efficient lighting and appliances and beautiful, natural materials.

PHOTOS BY PETER KRUPENYE

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IN MARCH 2014, American Honda unveiled Honda Smart Home US, located on the West Village campus of the University of California, Davis. The energy-efficient home can produce enough electricity onsite from renewable sources to meet all of its annual energy demand, including electricity to power a Honda Fit EV for daily commuting.
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