6 Awe-Inspiring New Green Homes

Perched on a steep slope above Tomales Bay in Inverness, California, this unique home was inspired by the rustic character of its surroundings. Designed by Studios Architecture to flow with the natural contours of the hillside, the house is flooded with natural light. It is made with locally sourced pine and takes advantage of passive solar heating and cooling, supplemented with efficient (and cozy!) radiant floors. The 1,840-square foot home also features water-saving technology.

Many of the designs showcased in New Green Homes clearly pay homage to Phillip Johnson's iconic Glass House, which is now more than 50 years old. Yet the goal of creating more seamless integration with the surrounding environment, as well as leaving a smaller footprint, are clearly as relevant as ever. The 4,090-square foot X House near Quito, Ecuador is like an expanded, updated Glass House, oriented around a central courtyard.

Designed by Arquitectura X, the X House is recyclable, and features water-saving fixtures and efficient evaporative cooling.

High atop a 230-foot seaside cliff outside Sydney, Australia, the 3,498-square foot Holman House is a palace fit for a rock star. The plan is open, maximizing the benefits of sunlight and sea breezes. The concrete core acts as a thermally insulated box, reducing need for heating, even in the mild climate. The lower areas are of rough stone, blending into the local rock. The interior furnishings are natural materials.

The views from inside the Holman House are spectacular, facilitated by the curved glass, which was molded at high temperature. The furniture is made of local and certified wood, and the style is austere, to leave the focus on the sea.

At the foot of mountains outside Sao Paulo, Brazil, Una Arquitetos designed a 4,670-square foot home that blends into the natural setting, instead of dominating it. The house features three patios, a roof garden, rainwater collection and local stone walls. Unnecessary finishes were avoided, the bathrooms are clustered together to make them more efficient, and the home takes advantage of passive energy. It is oriented to maximize cross ventilation.

The 4,110-square foot Rochedale House in Brentwood, California was designed by Ray Kappe for Living Homes, a company that specializes in steel-frame prefab designs. Prefab makes them more efficient and cost-effective to build than traditional construction. The home's modules can be assembled in just three days. The project was done in partnership with Wired magazine, and achieved LEED Gold green building certification from the USGBC.

The home boasts great indoor air quality, high energy and water efficiency and photovoltaic solar power. At the end of its life 76% of the home's material can be readily recycled.

There are many other awe-inspiring designs featured in New Green Homes. While you may not have the funds to build your own eco-mansion, or even want something large or showy, there is still plenty of inspiration to be gleaned for the rest of us. Remember, you don't have to build from scratch to go green, you can also renovate what you already have, and make changes gradually. It's an exciting time for green architecture!