One of the design imperatives at Tower House was to develop an energy-efficient solution with minimal operating and maintenance costs for a residence occupied part-time. To build the house using the smallest footprint possible was the first sustainable strategy.

In terms of energy efficency, an environmentally conscious design reduces the heating footprint of the house in the winter and eliminates the need for air conditioning in the summer. By compressing and stacking all the wet zones of the house into an insulated central core, much of the house can be “turned off” during the winter. When not in use, only 700 square feet, or 27% of the house, are heated. By closing the building down to the insulated core, there is a 49% reduction in energy use.

In the summertime, cool air is drawn in and through the house using the stack effect. South-facing glass throughout the stairwell creates a solar chimney. As hot air rises, it is exhausted out the top, drawing in fresh air through the house from the cooler north side.