The primary heat source for the building is the sun, so they oriented the house for maximum solar exposure. South-facing windows allow sunlight to enter in winter to provide heat. A concrete floor provides thermal mass to store heat and reduce temperature swings. They have a wood stove/oven for a secondary heating system that provides cooking and pre-heated domestic hot water. The firewood can be harvested from their property. About their home's thermal performance, Robbie says:

The walls are finished with natural clay plaster, which provides a naturally beautiful surface and helps to regulate humidity in the home. In dark or high traffic areas, the third and final coat contained lime, making the walls brighter and more durable. The clay was as locally sourced as it could be; in fact, it was dug from the ground near the house! The resulting pond now provides irrigation for their garden.

To insulate the pantry walls for excellent temperature food storage, they used a building technique called 'straw-clay slip.' This involves dressing straw with clay and packing it tightly between the wall studs. The clay acts as a binding agent to apply the clay plaster finish directly to the straw-clay slip. This technique was also used for the interior bedroom walls to help with soundproofing.

The closest utility power line is about 500 meters away. Instead of having a power line brought in (~$12,000), they got an off-grid solar photovoltaic system (~$14,000), designed and installed by Solar Global Solutions. To store the electricity, Robbie went online and found 16 used but perfectly operational deep-cycle gel-cell batteries. Their PV system supplies power for LED lighting, an Energy Star clothes washer, an electric hot water tank, two fridges, and numerous kitchen appliances. For little more than the cost of installing a power line, they have the electricity they want, with no power bills to pay.