Little House Nashville Ideas for Your Home

Jane Hardy with Backyard Compost Bin Made from Wooden Pallets

Looking for little ways to make a big difference in your energy bills and environmental impact? Jane Hardy and her husband spent $200 per square foot to meticulously rebuild the historic guesthouse in their backyard.  They earned prestigious LEED certification for the cottage that now rents by the week to Nashville visitors. Hardy felt it was worth the up-front expense of systems like geothermal heating and cooling that will pay for itself with energy savings in the long run.  The house is designed to use a third less energy than the average home its size.  She also contracted lots of custom woodworking to reuse salvaged solid wood for Little House Nashville.  On our recent visit, we asked Hardy which tips the rest of us could reuse in our homes, even without their construction budget:

Seal Out Drafts

Soy-Based Foam Spray Insulation in Walls

Whether you use the soy-based foam insulation that's between all of the studs at Little House Nashville, or just add foam insulation to your draftiest areas, it can make a difference.  You can also caulk around windows and doors.  Hardy says most of us unknowingly have so many drafts in our houses that it's the equivalent of having a large window constantly open, so we're heating and cooling more air than we need to.

Rain Barrels at Little House Nashville

Adding rain barrels to collect water from your roof means gallons of free water for gardens and lawns.      Use drought tolerant plants to green your space with less watering.  When you need to replace your water heater, consider a tankless one that requires less energy.  

Use Smart Technology

LEED Certified Home Uses Ceiling Fans, Dimmers

Consider replacing one lightbulb at a time with an LED bulb that can save energy and last 20 years.  Install programmable thermostats, light dimmers and motion detectors so air conditioning and lighting run only when needed