Copeland Casati / Green Home Kits

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She bakes on a solar cooker, funnels household greywater into her organic garden, collects eggs from a laying hen and “owns recycled everything--including the dog.” But Copeland’s green streak doesn’t stop at home. Passionate about affordable housing and great sustainable design, her Green Modern Kits bring paint-by-numbers simplicity to green homebuilding while leaving ample room for individual tastes. “You get gorgeous ‘bones’ which you can tailor to your personal style and budget.” The kits include roof and exterior walls (made of Structural Insulated Panels or SIPs), architectural houseplans, and a shopping list of doors, windows, and siding. Homeowners hire a local contractor to transform kit components into energy efficient passive solar homes. “When finished by local builders, the homes transfer green building knowledge into the community workforce.” Copeland’s own kit house is under construction in historic Charlotte Country near Appomattox. “Our goal is net zero, meaning the house generates enough energy to offset whatever it consumes.”