Smades House

1004 Sisters Lane
Oak Leaf, TX 75154

Tour Hours: Noon - 4pm

map
NOTE:
The map is approximate. Sisters Lane is new unincorporated street (they built their own street…how cool is that?). Please see directions below.

What to do with a 10 acre tract of family land? Four sisters Connie, Jan, Elaine and Paula had a solution… create their own Green Subdivision. One year later, with the help of nationally recognized Green Builder Jim Sargent, it happened! The result is a sight to behold… Four Green homes that perfectly reflect the individual choices of each family from Traditional to Modern. And all 4 are on the tour.

These homes are designed to reduce the long-term costs of home ownership through energy conservation and quality construction. In the future, all new homes will be built to these standards. Each is green in its own unique way. Come see what a $16 monthly electric bill can look like!

 

 

Renewable energy features

Solar PV

kW  8.85
Installation Date : 2013
Installer: Harvest Solar Energy LLC  http://harvestsolar.net/

Equipment

30 Suntech 295 watt panels and Fronius 10 kW inverter with wireless access

Retail Electric Provider

TBA

Solar Hot Water

Capacity: 50 gallons
Installation date: 2012
Installer: Harvest Solar Energy LLC
Equipment: Stiebel Eltron panel, Solar ME pump hot water system.
Takes care of all our hot water needs

 

Green features

  • Passive Solar Design with large comfortable porches for outdoor enjoyment.
  • Terrazo counter tops made from recycled materials right here in Texas.
  • All-metal insulated roof.
  • Low water use landscape.
  • LED lighting.
  • Electric Vehicle: Chevy Volt.
  • Anderson Sargent Home http://www.andersonsargent.com/ with numerous energy saving features including natural lighting, Durisol Cement block walls, and water features to further cool the air.

 

Host Comments

I think it is time to stop harming our Earth so that our grandchildren will be able to enjoy things we took for granted when we grew up- wild flowers, playing in the rain, breathing clean air. Plus a $16 monthly electric bill doesn’t hurt either.

All doors have ADA compliant 3’ openings.

In The News

From the Waxahatchie Daily Light article: (Read the full article here)

"We just want to take the opportunity to invite the community out and show everyone what is possible — and how affordable it really is — to build a home that uses very little energy. We’re very passionate about what we do and with energy prices continuing to go up, it’s important for folks to know there’s cost-effective options available to them.”

Also, here is a link from an Open House they had in October 2012:
http://www.waxahachietx.com/news/ellis_county/open-house-saturday-for-sister-homes/article_fcd07318-1968-11e2-8a4a-001a4bcf887a.html

Directions

Sisters Lane is new unincorporated street (they built their own street…how cool is that?).  It’s located near the border of Ovilla and Oak Leaf TX.  If you are traveling from Dallas:

  • Take I35 to Red Oak
  • Take the Ovilla exit and turn west on FM 664.
  • Travel about 3 miles west on FM 664 to S. Westmoreland.
  • Turn South on Westmoreland (left turn after lights).
  • Drive 2.2 miles south and Sisters Lane will be on your right.

As you get close, you will see tall wind turbine on the right just beyond Sisters Lane to the south. Look for the yellow and green DFW Solar Tour signs. It's much easier than it sounds and worth the trip.