Amory Lovins House

Old Snow Mass, Colorado

Background: Amory Lovins, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute and Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award winner, is no stranger to eco-friendly initiatives, and this combined home and workspace is a testament to his ingenuity. Why Its Unique: The residential section of the building costs a measly $5 per month to power, thanks to the structures passive solar design, 16-inch-thick walls and krypton-filled windows. As PM previously reported, Lovin doesnt rely on a boiler or furnace to heat the space; instead two wood-burning stoves take care of the job. But most impressive, perhaps, is the greenhouse, which has churned out nearly 30 crops of bananas, as well as guavas, pineapples and other tropical fruit rarely associated with the Rocky Mountains.