NZ House
In an effort to become carbon neutral, the city of Phoenix held a contest to design a near net-zero energy family home. The winner was the NZ House and now they've made plans available to anyone who's interested. Designed by Marlene Imirzian & Associates Architects, the dwelling takes inspiration from 1950's case study homes with its clean, mid-century modern exterior. Its 2,185-square-foot features three-bedrooms and spacious living areas. To combat the desert temps, insulation, high-performance glass, a solar chimney, and retractable window screens help earn its low energy rating. While the plans won't cost you anything, a completed structure will run around $344,000.
Photos: Marlene Imirzian & Associates Architects