Foursquare  |  Rejuvenating a Maine island gem

This 1907 cottage was in such a state of disrepair that simply salvaging it would have taken extraordinary measures. But our charge went far beyond that: Restore the cottage's original charm while simultaneously performing turning it into a model of energy efficiency.

A number of novel and sophisticated green construction techniques were required to save the house. (So many, in fact, the Journal of Light Construction documented the process in a series of eight articles.) After the sagging structure was salvaged, the entire house was wrapped in a robust insulation envelope, exceeding Passivhaus standards for air sealing—so tight and efficient it heats with a miserly pair of heat pumps. And because of meticulous design and construction work, not an iota of charm was sacrificed. According to the owners Will Crosby and Kathy Simmonds, "It's the perfect marriage of island cottage beauty and extreme efficiency. Juniper worked a miracle."