Green homes have moved past focusing solely on sustainability to incorporating brilliant design. Whether it be through expansive rooftop gardens, enough solar energy to run the entire home or the best-looking reclaimed wooden floors around, these green homes are looking good without sacrificing sustainability:
Orchid Eco-House in Cotswold
The Orchid house is named so because it was modeled after a bee orchid found in the Cotswold nature reserve. The 550 acre privately owned reserve will eventually be home to the Orchid house, which is being built on the edge of a lake. The home will produce more energy than it uses with a complex system that captures geothermal energy and utilizes an underground pump. Shaped like an egg with a camouflage shingled roof, the Orchid house is also known as the most expensive eco-home sold to date. An anonymous bidder purchased the 2400 square foot English home for 7.2 million pounds, which averages roughly 3,000 pounds per square foot.
Acqua Liana in Florida
Pet project of luxury real estate developer Frank McKinney, Acqua Liana is located on an acre and a half of prime real estate in Palm Beach. The 15,000 square foot mega mansion boasts basketball court-sized solar panels, gray water recycling, reclaimed wood throughout and 34,000 pounds of recycled trash and debris from the building process. Walking into the home’s entrance, the first thing guests will be struck by is the amazing atrium that makes people feel like they are floating in a magic underwater world. Glass floors, a floating spiral staircase and continual water motif runs throughout the home for an unforgettable green experience. And for the $29 million asking price, it better be unforgettable.
Great, I never knew this, thanks.