PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton residents and visitors will have a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge sustainable homes and gardens during the 2025 Green House Tours on Saturday.
This annual event, hosted by the Princeton Environmental Commission (PEC) and Sustainable Princeton (SP), showcases how neighbors are creating healthier, more energy-efficient living spaces through innovative green building practices.
The main house and garden tours take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. These guided tours require advance reservations and are restricted to visitors 18 years and older. All events are free and open to the public, though spots for the in-person tours are limited.
This year’s tour features seven distinctive properties that demonstrate various approaches to sustainable living:
- SustainAbeLeigh represents a thoughtful approach to historic preservation, where a fully electric renovation respects the home’s heritage while incorporating modern sustainability features including air-source heat pumps, solar panels, induction cooking, and a rain garden.
- Hillier House showcases modern architecture with a green roof designed for both energy efficiency and ecological impact. The fully electrified home features ground source heat pumps and comprehensive sustainable systems.
- Radically Radiant demonstrates high-performance retrofit techniques with radiant floor heating and cooling powered by ground source energy, complemented by passive solar design and thermal energy storage.
- Mrs. Brown’s Lucky Oyster Bar illustrates how energy-efficient renovations can incorporate sustainable materials and advanced mechanical systems, featuring superior insulation and energy recovery ventilation.
- Cool on Cuyler represents the gold standard of energy efficiency, combining reclaimed materials with Passive House-level airtightness (ACH 0.44), triple-pane windows, and high R-value assemblies that earned Energy Star and Indoor airPLUS certification.
- The tour also includes two Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Little Blue ADU integrates solar power, composting, and rainwater features in a compact footprint, while Adorable Dempsey Unit offers efficient systems designed for aging in place with superior insulation and durable, low-maintenance materials.
Interested participants should review the detailed descriptions of available homes and gardens before selecting their preferred locations using the new schedule builder system.
Given Princeton’s limited parking, organizers recommend walking or biking to tour locations. All featured properties are located within Princeton, making alternative transportation methods both feasible and environmentally consistent with the event’s mission.
For more information, click here.
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