A few words from the owners of the Natural Balance House, Glen and Deb Bruels.

Many people have asked us why we are building a green house, so to give you our perspectives, we will answer the three questions we get most often.

Why are you building “green?” Isn’t this just a fad?

Just like any phenomenon in the U.S., building and living green has some degree of “faddism” associated with it. But our interest in sustainable building goes all the way back to the mid ‘70s – the time of the last energy crisis and the burst of environmental awareness that came with it. Unfortunately, after that crisis, the funds (and much of the interest) in solar energy, re-using materials, etc., faded away in the U.S. In our travels to Europe, however, we saw that people there continued to innovate in renewable energy, modular construction, super insulation, glazing, etc. – all leading to more energy-efficient, healthy, and cost-effective homes. Whether to support the environment or to save money (since their energy prices have always been), they have taken and lead and spread their influence to many other parts of the world. With the recent spike in energy prices, the U.S. once again jumped into the fray in a big way. But this time it appears that green building has taken firmer root – first in commercial buildings and now in residential construction. It just makes sense. Building green results in a house that is more energy efficient, durable, and healthy. In fact, the rating systems for green certifications in effect, re-engineering the home-construction process and changing the way we think about materials and systems. I can tell you that the checklists have provided a few “aha!” moments for our architect and builder, even though they’ve been building green homes for over 20 years. Over time, increasing energy efficiency could lead to less dependence on foreign energy sources, thereby preserving our national security and reducing the potential for political and/or military intervention in other parts of the world. It is also more environmentally responsible, so we don’t pass all of our current environmental challenges on to our children. So I guess you could say that we are “green pragmatists.”

But doesn’t building green cost more?

From what we can see, the answer to that question is “yes” and “no.” We have found that many green products and materials are more expensive up-front. This is in part due to the use of higher quality, safer ingredients and manufacturing methods. Perhaps the biggest factor, though, is the fact that many of these products are on the front end of the consumer curve, where demand hasn’t yet made up for higher production costs. A good example is the way the price of flat-screen TVs has plummeted since their introduction. If building greener becomes the new standard in the U.S., then mass production and better amortization of cost will bring the unit costs of these products down as well. The other consideration is the life-cycle cost of owning a green home. Lower energy bills alone over time will take the higher upfront costs to a break-even point. The more efficiently we design and build, the sooner that break-even point will come.

Why have you named your project “The Natural Balance House?”

Many years ago when Glen was studying zoology and marine biology in college, he learned a new term, “commensalism.” That word refers to a type of symbiosis between two organisms where one benefits without significantly impacting the other. This is how we feel about this project. We will benefit from what nature gives us – the Earth’s temperature for our geothermal heating system, the sun for our solar hot-water system, and the rain for our cistern. In return, we will do our best to minimize our impact on the site. We are building with the land, following the slope of the lot with as little disturbance as possible to plants and trees outside the building envelope. We are also making extensive use of green roofs and permeable pavers to minimize the problems associated with stormwater runoff. We think we can achieve a natural balance with nature while preserving the pristine beauty of this waterfront setting in a place as wonderful and unspoiled as the San Juan Islands.