Graciously Green
Photograph by Katrina Wittkamp
One Evanston couple demonstrates that “going green”
need not be inconvenient
In theory, it’s time to go green. In practice, going green isn’t always so easy to do. Take Al Gore, for example. The former vice president won an Academy Award and the Nobel Peace Prize for “An Inconvenient Truth,” his documentary and book that urged us to curb our carbon-guzzling ways. Yet he hasn’t always led an exemplary carbon-conscious lifestyle himself.
In 2006, USA Today reported that the Gores “live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va.”—neither of them using green energy. Seven months later, USA Today reported that Gore had been purchasing green power for several months and that his “home is also under renovation to add solar panels.” Yet purists pointed to “gas lamps lining the driveway, a heated pool and an electric gate, all of which would be easy to do without.”
Do we really have to “do without” to go green?
Not necessarily—as Eleanor and Bill Revelle demonstrate with their dazzling, contemporary, 4,000-square-foot home, nestled lakeside in Evanston.
Outside, the home sports two gracefully angled wings that hug the shoreline. The multi-level roof line highlights the building’s architecturally intriguing hips and gables, rich cedar cladding, attractive landscaping that incorporates native grasses and plants, and plentiful windows. Inside, the handsome living room hearth, state-of-the-art kitchen, striking artisan-made central staircase, wine cellar, exercise pool, gleaming wood floors, and exquisitely crafted millwork in every room underlines the home’s comfortable luxury.
The home was designed to be as “environmentally sensitive, carbon-neutral, and economical as possible, given the materials and technologies that were available when it was built [in 2003],” points out the project’s architect, Ellen Galland, principal of Rockwell Associates in Evanston.
The very fact that the home was built at all underscores the Revelles’ commitment to a sustainable lifestyle. “It was hard to substantiate tearing down the house that was here, but it was a 1952 prefab that was an energy hog,” says Bill.
It’s not surprising that the Revelles opted to build green. Bill’s father was Roger Revelle, one of the first scientists to study global warming. He was also Gore’s professor at Harvard University—one whom Gore mentions as an inspiration in both the movie and book versions of “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Clearly, the senior Revelle’s specialty also had an impact on his son and daughter-in-law, whose home received five stars—the highest rating possible at the time—from the Energy Star certification program, a program that encourages the development of highly energy-efficient appliances and structures.
To achieve that end, the home’s design and placement was calculated to take advantage of the site’s beauty and natural resources. Tall windows, skylights, and an open floor plan let natural light filter into all living spaces. Large windows are oriented to the south for passive solar gain. The open, central stairwell, coupled with strategic window placement, creates natural stack ventilation that lets cool air enter on the lower levels and pushes hot air up and out via the top story. An airlock-style entry on the first floor keeps warmth inside in cold weather.
The structure also integrated model technologies to produce heat and energy. “We tried to demonstrate what it’s possible to do by using things that are affordable and current, but not state-of-the-art or bleeding edge,” quips Bill. These include roof slates that incorporate photovoltaic cells to produce electricity; a solar-thermal system for most of the domestic hot water, some of the radiant floor heating and all of the heat for the pool water; a natural gas-fired boiler to back-up the solar-thermal system; and a highly efficient advanced combustion fireplace.
Photograph by linda oyama bryan
In fact, that eye-catching roofline with multiple planes provided the roof area required for the photovoltaic shingles. “[The Revelles] wanted six kilowatts of capacity to fulfill as much of their electrical needs as possible,” says Galland. The tact worked: “Half of the year, we sell back more electricity than we buy,” says Bill. “In total, we make 80 percent of our own electricity.”
But the homeowners and architect didn’t stop here; every system in the structure and all the materials used to build the place are models of sustainability. The Revelles documented the experience of building green on a website so others could benefit from their research (www.revelle.net/lakeside/).
“We used building materials that had a low environmental impact, or were regional when possible. All of millwork and framing came from Forest Stewardship Council-certified hardwoods, and we chose bamboo for the floors because it can be harvested in five years. Typical hardwood floors are made from trees 80 or older,” explains Galland. A giant fir ridge beam from the original 1950s house was resawn to become a fireplace mantel, a huge support beam in the living room, and a buffet in the dining room. Even the stylish tiles and sumptuous wood cabinets in the kitchen are eco-friendly. “We only used a thin veneer of maple, and the tiles are recycled glass from car windshields,” says Eleanor.
To reduce energy consumption, compact florescent bulbs fill almost every light fixture; the landscape lighting is solar-powered; all appliances are high-efficiency; triple-glazed windows insulate against winter winds and summer heat; window shades improve the insulating value of the windows; and ceiling fans maximize natural ventilation from all those windows. “I can count the number of days we have to use air conditioning in the summer on one hand,” boasts Bill.
To conserve water, there are dual-flush toilets, permeable driveway pavers to retain rain water for the lot’s water table; and a 1,000 gallon rainwater-fed cistern for the landscaping—“which is drought-resistant to begin with,” notes Eleanor.
While attaining the highest Energy Star rating was important, function was a consideration as well. The open floor plan yields the flexible space the Revelles require for their lifestyle. Bill is a psychology professor at Northwestern University; Eleanor is writer and community activist; and they frequently host gatherings and visitors in their home. The library has a bookcase that conceals a foldout bed, while the first-floor living space is a perfect venue for events. “We’ve had as many as 50 people for parties and 30 for meetings,” says Bill.
Two artisans customized various aspects of the interior. John Cavalier, a carpenter and master craftsman at Sturm Builders in Evanston, made the built-in bookcases, benches and other customized features. Tor Faegre, an Evanston carpenter and artisan, designed and fabricated the striking stairway banisters and railing. Much of the Revelles’ furniture came from their former home, and is slowly being replaced. Cavalier, also a furniture maker, made a buffet, king-sized bed, dresser, and night stands.
“We’re not quite as strict about being carbon neutral as we’d like,” says Bill. But clearly their commitment to carbon consciousness demonstrates that comfort and style can be integral to a sustainable way of life. MH
