Ariel and Kyle strive to do their part to live an ecologically sustainable life. They eat a plant-based diet, purchase a CSA share from Luscher farm, and are looking at EVs for their next cars.
In 2021, they returned from several years in California and purchased a 1960s ranch house on Southshore Blvd. in Lake Oswego, but the house needed updating. They knew they wanted to play their part to mitigate climate change, but knew little about what that entailed in a remodel.
They collaborated with Ariel’s sister, who is an interior designer (Sara Gray with Grayhaus Interiors), and TaylorSmith Sustainable Construction, which focuses on sustainable construction, to design a highly ecologically-friendly home. The home was deconstructed down to the studs and rebuilt as an all-electric energy retrofit with a backup power generation system.
Ariel and Kyle switched to induction cooking and loved it from the beginning. Ariel says that cooking is not her forte, but induction is “good for bad cooks” because it allows better regulation of heat and has made her much more confident in the kitchen. She also can see how much safer it will be for their two-year-old son.
Here is a list of the unique features of their home:
- Certified Net Zero Ready and Energy Star Home
- Repurposed Foundation and Framing
- Extremely Air-Tight Envelope 2” Continuous Exterior Rigid Insulation
- High Efficiency 23 SEER Modulating Heat Pump with High Efficiency Whole Home Ventilation and HEPA Air Filtration
- High Efficiency Heat Pump Water Heater
- Custom 14’ Tall White Oak Screen Wall with Integrated Staircase
- New High Performing Windows Throughout