Tue, Dec 02, 2008
 The main room of Scott and Linda Feltheim's home is sheltered by a south-facing front porch; the high north windows (above) stay open to pull cool air through the room.
photos by ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
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CORT WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Health Care Rio Salado College PA's/Online Instructors Education Assessment Technology, Inc Social Studies Content Writer Construction Komatsu Equipment Co Mechanic General CORT Warehouse Supervisor at HomeClean, cool comfortThis energy-efficient home in Civano was also built efficiently
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.14.2006
By Joan F. Barrett
Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Scott and Linda Feltheim could easily adopt the slogan "Save money and natural resources, but live comfortably."
Starting with its creation, their Southeast Side residence has been economical.
In 2004, the 1,340-square-foot, frame-construction house went up for about $127,000. "For a custom home, that's pretty good," said Scott, who designed the house on a limited budget.
Scott, an architect, made sure that the small structure, built by CNN Development Inc., would meet the needs of his family. He also guaranteed that the home would be energy- and water-efficient, and would take advantage of the desert sun.
The house faces south on its quarter-acre lot in Civano, a development known for environmentalism. This passive solar design allows the front porch to keep the sun out of the home in summer.
In winter, however, the sun can enter to heat the porcelain tile on the central big room's floor. The tile radiates warmth throughout this 504-square-foot space, which holds the kitchen, dining and living areas.
Energy-efficient, double-pane, low-emissivity windows contribute to summer cooling. Their placement in the long, narrow room also helps.
Hot air escapes through two high, north-wall windows that stay open to draw cooler air from low, open windows on the south. This process drops the temperature about 2 degrees.
When it approaches 95 degrees outside, Scott, 32, or Linda, 29, turns on the air conditioning; in winter, the thermostat remains at 67. This comfort zone held last year's total heating and cooling bill to about $400 and worked nicely for the couple and their children, Annie, 8 months, and David, 2.
Water conservation takes place inside and outside. Three used containers, retrofitted to store rainwater, stand by the house and garage. They hold up to 160 gallons for yard-watering purposes.
The master bathroom has a dual-flush toilet, with a low-volume flush for liquid and paper and a standard flush for solid waste. An instant water heater guarantees warmth within two seconds.
Two tubular skylights in the master bathroom and one in the second bathroom bring ample light into these windowless areas during daytime. A fourth appears above the kitchen, where stemware racks, hooks and stackers maximize space in the few cabinets.
By the half-wall that separates the kitchen from the dining area, an old door with desk legs bought from Ikea serves as a dining table. Scott's father stripped the piece, and his mother applied a cherry stain.
Ikea bookshelves fill most of the living area's east wall. Cable lights appear overhead near the 10-foot-high ceiling.
Smaller rooms with 8-foot ceilings flank the big room, with one side holding the children's carpeted bedrooms, which open directly into the living space. Their closets are linked with an opening that contains a laundry hamper.
Linda's mother, sister and a friend painted Annie's room in green and off-white. Its theme comes from the "Guess How Much I Love You" children's book, and it includes a wall border with a rabbit design.
Royal blue and yellow color David's toy- and book-filled room. His toddler bed came secondhand from Twice As Nice.
Two baths, the master bedroom and a den with a sofa bed appear on the home's opposite end. A mirror above each bathroom sink revolves to reveal storage shelves.
In the master bathroom, a black laminate shelf fits around a pedestal sink to give the impression of a bowl sink. Three Ikea drawers rest below the shelf, and strategically placed towels camouflage the pedestal.
Future interior changes will likely focus on replacing white furniture pieces and the white-beige carpeting. Says Scott: "We'll never do that again with two small children."
● Contact Tucson freelance writer Joan F. Barrett at jbarrett2@mindspring.com.
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