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Natural Building, Renovationand the Restoration EconomyNatural Building, Renovationand the Restoration Economy

ECOLODGE DESIGN & PLANNINGLisa Kivirist & John Ivanko

Inn Serendipity, co-authors of Rural Renaissance& Renewing the Countryside

CASE STUDYInn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast

• Hobby Farm, or Farmette

• Two room B&B, plus other businesses managed from home office– Use power of Internet, computers,

changing business climate

• Outside Monroe, Wisconsin

• 5.5 acres on ridge


ECOpreneuring… mimics or harvests nature while thriving in a restoration economy.

• Food Systems

• Energy Systems- conservation & efficiency- renewable energy

• Living Systems- clean air, water, soil- natural building, green design

• “Right Livelihood”


• Retrofit• Renovate• Re-use materials, local

– Embodied energy

• Restore and preserve• Nature-based materials• Zero waste• Affordable

– Not just evaluate cost to build, but cost to operate

• Everything is interconnected

Design & Planning Considerations


• Net zero carbon emissions• Net energy producer• Reuse more materials than

dispose of• Break fossil fuel addiction• Guests are sometimes

material suppliers

Business is tool for ecological restoration

Design & Planning Considerations


Living Systems: Green Design

Strawbale greenhouse• Made from local straw bales

(R-43 walls)• Earthen & Lime-cement plaster• Solar thermal heating system with

biodiesel back-up heating system


Living Systems: Green Design

Strawbale greenhouse• Steel roof (very durable)• Roof used for water encatchment• Simple solar shower unit

Renovation of farmhouse• Turn B&B into power station• Turn gardens into grocery store• Energy conservation with landscaping


Living Systems: Natural Home

• No-VOC products (paints, sealers, caulks)

• Forest Stewardship Council(FSC) certified woods

• Recycled products (tiles made from recycled windshield glass)

• Eco-cleaners, organic/natural linens


Renewable Energy Systems:10 kW Bergey Wind Turbine

• 120-foot tower• Produces over 9,500 kWhs/year• Grid-interconnected system• Net cost $16,000, after Focus

on Energy cash-back award


Renewable Energy Systems:.7 kW Photovoltaic (PV) System

• 4 170-Watt Suntech modules• Cantilevered off equipment shed• Meets about 2% annual electricity

needs• Net cost $4,285, after Focus on

Energy cash-back award


Renewable Energy Systems:• Net Producer of Electricity on Annual Basis

• Reduce EcologicalFootprint


Renewable Energy Systems:

Solar Thermal Systemfor Hot Water

• 3 collectors• Capture heat from

sunlight to heat waterfor domestic use

• Estimated payback of less than 5 years


Renewable Energy Systems:Woodstove for Winter Heat

• Return to the hearth• Locally available wood at

little or no cost• EPA certified, air-tight

design (post 1990)


Renewable Energy Systems:Biodiesel

• Processing used fryer oil using “appleseed processor”

• $.90/gallon, about 4 hoursper batch

• Use in back-up heating systems (#2 fuel oil), portable heating units

• Use in VW Jetta TDI


Renewable Energy Systems:Off-Grid PV System and EV Car

• .5 kW PV system forcharging all-electric CitiCar

• Back-up electricity forgreenhouse

• Recharging electric mower• Striving toward carbon-negative• Complete elimination of

fossil fuels


Renewable Energy Systems:Energy Conservation & Energy Efficiency

• ENERGY STAR appliances- Maytag Neptune, Sun

Frost refrigerator• Compact fluorescent bulbs• Low-E window inserts• Line-dried laundry• Faucet aerators, caulking, hot

water wrap

www.ruralrenaissance.orgwww.innserendipity.comwww.ecopreneuring.biz

Books by Lisa Kivirist & John Ivanko

Rural Renaissance:$19 (22% off list price)

Edible Earth (cookbook):$11 (22% off list price)

Least Imperfect Path (ecotourism traveloque): $6 (50% off)

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