Cool Homes: Urban ‘green’ house

by Shauna Steigerwald
ssteigerwald@enquirer.com

Heather and James Kinsman were looking to relocate from the San Francisco Bay area to Heather’s hometown of Cincinnati, with Northside topping their list of desired neighborhoods. When they found a rare three-acre lot for sale there, they jumped at the chance to build their own “green” home, inspired by similar homes they’d toured in California.

It wasn’t easy. Heather, who now works in grants at the University of Cincinnati, and James, who’s studying to take the bar exam in February, spent years researching energy-efficient building techniques and finding the right professionals to help them implement their plans.

Completed last December, the 2,500-square-foot, LEED Silver certified home they share with daughter Shilo, 4, has already been featured on the 2012 Ohio Solar Tour and the 2012 Northside House Tour.

Read on as they give us a tour.

Have a cool home you’d like us to feature? Email ssteigerwald@enquirer.com.

Roof-mounted solar panels heat water, which is pumped through the floors of the house to heat it. / The Enquirer/Tony Jones

Q: What drew you to this particular site?

Heather: A million things. We were specifically looking in Northside for a number of reasons – its walkability, its proximity to downtown, its green space and its progressive culture.

We definitely lucked out when we found this site.

In the living room, a high ceiling with motorized windows helps increase airflow. / The Enquirer/Tony Jones

Read and view more at

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=AB&Dato=20121119&Kategori=ENT09&Lopenr=311190063&Ref=PH

(12-10-19 redirect from lohre.com)