The owners of this new home wanted the most energy-efficient home possible, including a geothermal heat pump system to heat and cool their home. They wanted a home that connected well with the natural setting and fit well on their inner-city lot.

The result? This comfortable, well-planned home is quietly elegant and soulful. It takes advantage of breezes and daylight. The inviting outdoor living space includes a two-story covered carport where they sit on the upper deck among the treetops and look out over extensive gardens fed by an integrated water collection system.

More about that geothermal heat pump system – It uses the ground as a heat source in winter and a heat sink in summer. For this house, the system includes three 300-foot deep geothermal wells and a heat pump with a SEER >37. (SEER is a measurement of the efficiency of an air conditioner. The higher the SEER, the better. The Austin Energy Green Building Program requires at least 14 SEER. (More about SEER.) Installing a geothermal heat pump system is expensive, but the owners expect dramatically reduced utility bill. Besides, they plan to retire and grow old in their home and expect a good return on their investment.