Provo shows off Energy Smart House

PROVO — A handful of residents toured Provo's new Energy Smart House Thursday night, admiring the refurbished 1920 home that features an immaculate backyard with a footpath fashioned from the remains of the old driveway.

"I think everything is beautiful," said Jenilyn Shiles. "We wanted to see how all this was done."

The jetted tub in the bathroom gave her pause, though.

"It made me wonder, how does that save water?" Shiles asked.

Actually, the jetted tub is one of the few items remaining from the house purchased a year ago by NeighborWorks Provo to rehabilitate and sell. The rehabilitation started last July and has included a variety of energy-efficient upgrades.

Now, the building will serve as a demonstration house for people who want to see what can be done to improve their energy efficiency. The home is located in Provo's Franklin neighborhood at 279 S. 600 West. The house will be open by appointment by calling NeighborWorks Provo at 801-375-5820.

Thursday's open house was scheduled to coincide with Earth Day, and city officials hope the upgraded home in the downtown neighborhood will inspire other residents in the city.

"We want this home to provide a demonstration for residents to see how they could make changes to their own homes to lower their energy costs one project at a time," said Julie Beck with the Provo City Redevelopment Office.

Several organizations — including Provo City Power and Water, Questar Gas and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District — helped with the energy-efficient upgrades.

The remodeled home features an upgraded furnace, tankless water heater, dual flush toilets, low-energy light fixtures using fluorescent bulbs and low-E glass double-pane windows. The home also has increased insulation in the walls and roof.

The water district helped redesign the landscaping for the house, focusing on water-saving plants, a small lawn and recycled concrete chunks from the old driveway in the backyard.

Provo officials have put photos and videos showing how the home was rebuilt, as well other energy-related information, on the city's website at energysmart.provo.org.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com