What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
Passive-solar straw bale; two separate 80 gal. active solar hot water systems; 3KW solar electric with 24 hour battery backup and utility sell-back. Anderson casement windows. "Warm Window" insulated window treatments.Property Description
Great opportunity to own an energy efficient, solar powered, straw bale home only 45 minutes from downtown Denver. Combining southwestern charm with a unique earth-friendly design, this 4,880 sq. ft. ranch with walk-out is on 35.2 fenced acres on the eastern plains that includes Kiowa Creek bottom with hundreds of trees and a pond. It offers 16 foot vaulted ceilings, views of Pikes Peak, Mount Evans and Longs Peak, main floor master suite, four other large bedrooms with lots of closet space, plus a large 13 x 15 room that could be used as a 6th bedroom! The large kitchen has granite counters, tiled back splash, and breakfast bar. The home’s heating system is a passive solar and energy-efficient design, supplemented by one built-in propane fireplace on the main level and individually controlled electric baseboard heat in each bedroom. Eight ceiling fans throughout the house keep the temperature uniform and comfortable. The house uses straw & rebar as load-bearing walls on the main level; deep window sills and R-60 insulation provided by the straw to create a feeling of comfort and smaller temperature swings as compared to stick built homes. The stucco and straw walls provide a natural system where air and vapor can move through the walls balancing humidity and improving interior air quality as well as being attractive. In the summer, one evaporative cooler efficiently cools the entire home. One free-standing propane fireplace in the walk-out basement provides all the heat for the large TV/play/exercise/recreation area. Excellent tasting, deep water well, which is rare in this area. On demand hot water supplements the solar hot water on the north end of the house. Views from every room of the home give a feeling of privacy and freedom. Grass and alfalfa hay fields. Room for horses, stock and a barn.Neighborhood Description
Rural, agriculturally zoned, minimum lot size 35 acres at end of cul-de-sac. Kiowa Creek runs through western edge of property. Deer, antelope, turkey, owl, falcon, dove, coyote, and fox are often on or near property. Most of our neighbors have horses and some keep cattle.Market Area
Bennett (6 miles away) residents enjoy the pleasures of small town western living, clean air, quiet times and friendly neighbors. While retaining these attributes, the residents can also enjoy the urban highlights of Denver only 25 miles from Bennett and the alpine recreation of the great Rocky Mountains only an hour's drive away.
It has modern stores, fast food and colorful local eateries. Our home is 35 minutes from DIA.School District
Bennett schools rank in the bottom third in the state. We have home schooled and have no direct experience. Like most small towns, high school sports are the main news items in our local paper, the I-70 Scout.Community
Bennett has a great recreation center and many community activities. For those who road bicycle there is a long loop to the Aurora reservoir that is part of many triathlons and road races. Bennett will let you be as active or private as you chose to be.Location of Home or Land
Rural
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Electric Radiant |
| Cooling System | Swamp Cooler |
| Ventilation System | Other |
| Whole House Filtration | None |
| Whole House Vacuum | yes |
Energy & Water
| Energy System | Solar - Photovoltaic |
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Construction Type | Straw bale |
| Exterior Finish | Stucco |
| Interior Finish | Earthen Plaster |
| Interior Paint | Low VOC |
| Floor Material | Carpet |
| Roof Material | Asphalt Composition Shingle |
| Window Material | Metal Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Urethane Foam |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | attached |
| Number of Cars | 4 |
| Garage Area | 1440 sqft |
