The Smart House

Mark McMenamin -- Interior Design, 6/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Here's a bright idea: a blueprint for builders of energy-efficient houses. That's what's provided by the Ecomagination Homebuilder program, a collaboration between the General Electric Company and a division of Masco Contractor Services. Houses constructed according to these standards promise 20 percent savings in household energy and water use and in emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases. Components include Energy Star appliances, Energy Smart lighting for indoors and out, and a GE SmartCommand Dashboard, providing data on water and electricity consumption. The first Ecomagination neighborhood is due for completion this fall in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.