Steve Kunin, a Newton resident and sustainable homeowner, participated in the June Sustainable Streets Tour organized by Green Newton. The event allowed visitors to explore energy efficient homes and learn from homeowners about upgrades they could make to their own homes. Kunin shared his experiences and insights on building and living in an energy efficient house.
Kunin’s home features several sustainable elements, including a “tight envelope” i.e., great insulation and air sealing; an air source heat pump solar panels; and an induction cooktop. When asked about his motivation for creating a green home, Kunin explained, “For a variety of reasons. I’m in real estate myself and I do a lot of projects that have sustainability as a key aspect to those projects. As I was going to build my own home, I figured I would walk the talk.”
During the tour, Kunin fielded questions on various aspects of sustainable living. “It was a variety of folks. Some people were looking to undertake bigger construction projects, so they were looking to learn about the experience we had designing and building a green home, or some of the technologies we’re using like air source heat pumps, or how we found our contractor or architect,” he said.
One of the key benefits Kunin emphasizes is the increased comfort of living in a well insulated and sealed home. “When you build a tight envelope like we did, we don’t have drafts in our house. We just don’t. The temperature is very even throughout the house which is great,” he shared.
For those considering making the switch to a more sustainable lifestyle, Kunin offered some advice, “Find the right team. Either the right architect or the right engineer. Look for a builder that has experience with green building.” He also stressed the importance of balancing sustainability goals with budget constraints, stating, “Our goal wasn’t to be the most sustainable that we could be, because if we had, we would have blown our budget.”
Kunin believes his sustainable home has a positive impact, not only on the environment but also on the community. “There are a lot of conversations and questions that come out naturally because of that,” he noted, explaining how his home often sparks discussions about sustainability with neighbors and visitors.
Reflecting on the Sustainable Streets Tour, Kunin expressed satisfaction with the event, “It was really nice to meet all the people who were interested in learning more about building a green home.” His participation in the tour helps address the growing interest in sustainable living within the Newton community and illustrates the valuable role that experienced homeowners can play in educating others about green practices.
Through sharing his experiences and insights, Steve Kunin contributes to the ongoing conversation about sustainability in Newton, inspiring others to consider environmentally friendly options for their homes and lifestyles.
If you are interested in energy efficient upgrades to your home or are considering building a high performance home, check out the City of Newton’s Energy Coach webpage, or email Green Newton at info@greennewton.org to get started.
Author Jessica Schwarz is an intern with Green Newton through the MassCEC internship program. A fourth-year student at Boston University, she is pursuing studies in Environmental Analysis and Policy, along with journalism.
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