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"  In a perfect world, energy-\u00ADefficient architecture would save homeowners money\u2014not cost a premium. This is why we&amp;#039;re excited about the Philadelphia 100K House, selected by the U.S. Green Building Council as its 2010 House of the Year. The dwelling can be built for about $100,000 in labor costs and materials, including \u00ADno-frills concrete and exposed plywood finishes. The architects, Interface Studio, collaborated with design/build firm Postgreen to reproduce key elements from their award-winning structure in almost a dozen Philly houses now for sale, starting at about $250,000. The pilot house&amp;#039;s total utility bills cost $900 per year, and some of the newer models can cut that figure in half. Here are some energy-\u00ADsaving features from the 100K House we&amp;#039;d like to see other developers adopt. PANEL INSULATION Structural insulated panels (SIPs)\u2014extruded polystyrene insulation fitted between panels of oriented strand board\u2014 frame and insulate homes using a single low-cost product. RAIN SCREEN Exterior sheathing leaves a \u00BC-inch air gap between the siding and wall. This air barrier aids in drainage, reduces solar heat gain and boosts the home&amp;#039;s insulation.  WARM FLOORS An efficient boiler pumps hot water to a hydronic radiant-heat system. To cut costs, the plumbing was cast into the floors as they were poured.  ROOF ARRAYS A rooftop solar-thermal array provides 80 percent of the hot water the home consumes annually. ENERGY-RECOVERY VENTILATOR To maintain a steady indoor temperature and circulate fresh air through the sealed building, an energy-recovery ventilator continuously exchanges hot indoor air with fresh air from outside. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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