That heat is then transferred to the old stone walls underneath. From there, the stone slowly radiates the warmth into the interior, keeping it around 70°F even as night temperatures drop to 25°F. A wood-burning stove compensates for cloudy days. (For the thermally-savvy, the polycarbonate has a U value of 1.1 W/m²K).

The house has a small environmental footprint. SHED built it using advanced framing, a technique that cuts down on the use of lumber by 30 percent. Another benefit of the method is that it prevents heat from escaping the home, making it more energy-efficient. Additionally, the architects installed a high-efficiency boiler that preheats water with rooftop solar panels; a heat recovery ventilation system that efficiently controls the climate; and a rainwater retention tank that conserves water.

A deck is located off the dining area.

Eric Schneider and Michael Chen take in the space-efficient renovation.

In front, the hood is likewise broadened. The “airblades” on the left and ride side are more than sleek design flourishes. Together, they efficiently channel air to the car's intercooler.

The rest of the building is insulated with recycled cotton—4.75 inches in the walls, almost 8 inches in the roof—to keep the interior temperature stabilized.

During summer, the sun is too high above the home to heat the polycarbonate: the plastic simply reflects the light—and its energy—back into the atmosphere. In fact, during the summer the stone wall absors the interior's excess heat and releases it into an air gap—about 2-4 inches wide—between it and the polycarbonate. The home's furniture is economical: the table seen here is just a wood board stabilized on two A-frames.

Using wood as the primary building material imbues an aesthetic warmth to the structure. It's also cost-effective, considering the abundance of Canada's natural timber resources and strong local carpentry trade. Photo by Shai Gil.

Chicago Net Positive Home (Kipnis Architecture + Planning) Architect Nathan Kipnis’ plans utilized super-tight construction, skylights, and carefully calibrated air flow to increase natural light and ventilation while lowering energy usage. Landscape designer Julia Bunn enlivened the 400-square-foot roof with a green rooftop garden.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Headquarters (Los Altos, California: 2012) The forward-thinking headquarters of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, created in 2012, embodies the vision and mission of the philanthropic concern, a reflection of the Hewlett-Packard founder’s passion for the environment and technology. An angular grid of configurable office suites encircling an open courtyard, the Bay Area site reflects the region, sporting salvaged wood, local stone, and a red cedar exterior. And while the structure itself, a Net Zero Energy Building that earns LEED Platinum certification, is impressive, the architects at EHDD did one better by shaping culture as well as space. An energy audit revealed that the staff’s emissions were generated mostly from transportation, so EHDD added video conferencing suites and a shuttle to pick up staff from the nearby rail station. Photo by Jeremy Bitterman

Dishwasher with Window by KitchenAid, $2,049 - In addition to reducing energy consumption by 13 percent, the dishwasher uses 35 percent less water than average.

Material continuity speaks to both minimalist modernism and to simplifying costs: Cedar was used throughout, on the interior walls and ceilings, on the roof, and as exterior cladding. Photo by Shai Gil.

The home incorporates ductless mini-split heating/cooling units—one in every room—that use inverter-driven compressors to provide exact control 100% of the time. This means each unit can target the rooms being used and not empty ones. Overall, this system can cut heating and cooling costs by 30% compared to traditional systems.

High Efficiency Laundry Center by Frigidaire, from $1,399 - Shown in Classic Slate, the unit has an ultra-fast spin cycle to extract more water from clothes, thereby shortening drying time.

Waiters raced in and out of the restaurant. The looked so efficient and official in their white uniforms.

With temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in the summer, energy-efficient climate control was central to the design.

Double Door-In-Door Refrigerator by LG, $5,999 - To reduce cold air loss, the 34-cubic-foot refrigerator has a special double door system that allows easy access to favorite items.

Signature Series Sottile refrigerator by Perlick, from $3,000 - The Energy Star-certified under-counter refrigerator is UL-approved for outdoor use and has stainless-steel doors.

The commission was for a robust and efficient little cabin oriented towards the lake.

An energy-efficient TPO membrane covers the living room’s zigzag roof.

Conserve water and energy by swapping your regular kitchen and bathroom taps for more efficient faucets.

The barn makes extraordinarily efficient use of timber milled from on-site trees.

Prestige Series Condensing Tankless Water Heater by Rheem, $1,200 - The appliance heats water on demand—no extra energy is expended to keep a tank full of H2O hot.

HybridCare Duet dryer with Heat Pump Technology by Whirlpool, $1,899 - The Energy Star–certified, high-efficiency, electric dryer is ventless—excellent for apartment dwellers—and has a hefty capacity of 7.3 cubic feet.

Just because your kitchen is on the smaller side doesn’t mean you can’t make it as efficient and effective as possible.

On one side of the cube, black doors that meld with the wall open to reveal an efficient wardrobe and a surprisingly bright marble bedroom.

Key to the space-efficient floor plan is a strategically placed set of recessed areas, includingthe sleeping nook and writing desk.

Sustainability was top of mind for Tribe who, chose a highly efficient French Philippe Chemise fireplace—a justifiable extravagance that heats the entire home.

FSC-certified exposed framing and plywood was a resource-efficient step which helped to create modern ceilings.

This 3,200-square-foot structure was assembled with a prefabricated foundation, concrete panel siding, and efficient built-ins, minimizing construction debris and toxins—such as concrete foundation tar—on the site.

The grey flooring on the ground floor is polished concrete with a distinctive aggregate. Underfloor heating in the polished concrete floor allows for efficient low temperature heating throughout the home.

The plan is super efficient but with gracious moments. This was also family's home for four generations, so preserving the house’s original shape and honoring that history was important factor in the design process.

Slide-In Induction Chef Collection range with Flex Duo oven by Samsung, $3,699 - Developed in tandem with renowned chefs, the induction range features a single oven that can be divided into two separate temperature zones if desired.

The Frankfurt kitchen, designed by Austrian architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, was one of the first kitchens designed as a complete and efficient system.

Alloi's design solution for the exterior envelope included exterior rigid insulation to reduce solar heat gain, and recycled newspaper blown-in cellulose insulation at interior and exterior walls, creating an energy efficient and peacefully quiet home.

"The brief was to efficiently and cost effectively transform a light-starved weatherboard into an open and modern home with a good connection to the rear garden and a relaxed yet refined feel," says the firm. The owner charred and oiled the shiplapped cypress siding himself.