When it comes to being green, modesty counts.

That was the message conveyed by the judges of New York House magazine's first annual Best in Green Building Competition, who selected a small, Energy Star-labeled home in upstate Columbia County as the grand prize winner.

But there were so many exceptional entries among the 12 finalists, the judges decided to additionally recognize two Ulster County homes—a net-zero energy antique timber frame home in Gardiner, and a "green spec house" in the heart of New Paltz, for their creativity in renewable energy and sustainable living practices.

The competition, sponsored by Mohonk Mountain House, was created to identify, recognize, and showcase the outstanding and innovative work of architects, builders, designers, and energy experts in the region, as well as the homeowners who fund and support that work. Our goal was to spotlight exemplary home projects in order to bring them the attention they deserve, educate and inspire our readers, and promote green building practices in our region and beyond.

A panel of judges carefully considered each of the detailed entries, narrowed them down to 12 finalists, and at the end of September made the final picks, based on specified criteria [see sidebar]. 

In selecting the winning house in rural Canaan, owned by Trina Porte and Kristine Cottom, the judges made a strong statement about the value of appropriateness of means and optimizing a home's efficiency.

Completed in July 2006 by builder Jason Smith, the 1,600-square-foot house serves as both a residence and a workplace for its owners. There were many compelling energy-saving and sustainable features about this house, but what set it apart from the luxury homes and conventional center-hall colonials that didn't make the cut was its modesty and practicality.

Details such as the heating system, for example, and its unconventional design impressed the judges. It consists of a sensible blend of passive solar and radiant heat, powered by a high-efficiency Buderus propane boiler with a super-insulated hot water heater of the same brand attached.

In the end, what mattered most to the panel was advocating a new way of looking at green and sustainable homes: that of reducing energy demand.

"The scary thing for me is that after 30 years, green building comprises just three percent of the building in the U.S.," Michael McDonough said. "The sad reality is that energy consumption per square foot has gone up. What's that tell us? Something's wrong."

McDonough and the other judges felt that net-zero energy buildings aren't responsible if they're oversized 'energy hogs' that simply use systems such as solar and geothermal to cancel out the increased energy consumption. 

Paul McGinniss said he felt that "powering your home completely by renewable energy is essential if you want to call it 100 percent green."

The judges debated all aspects of alternative energy. McDonough questioned the site-and-building-specific appropriateness of solar photovoltaic panels, a technology that can have a 30-year payback in the Northeast but may not last 30 years. He raised the same questions regarding heat pump-based geothermal systems, noting their potential complexity and related need for skilled service technicians, and an economic viability that may be tied to subsidized electrical rates. McGinniss advocated net-zero energy, while Jack Christmann placed a high value on affordability.

In the end, they took a stand on energy optimization of each building. With that in mind, the Porte-Cottom home emerged as the clear winner.

"The reason I like [this house] is its modesty and appropriateness to its site. It tries to go beyond the conventional building," McDonough stated.

Added Christmann, "If you were to ask me what house I would build as an energy-efficient house, it's Porte-Cottom because it's oriented well; it's optimized on a lot of levels."

Porte, who served as general contractor on her house, explained the intricacies of siting and building a home to optimize every aspect of the landscape and natural resources.