When Terri was looking to downsize from her home in Austin, Texas, she discovered Whisper Valley – a sustainable, net-zero capable planned community under development just 20 minutes east of downtown.

GEO HOOD: Large, planned developments, like the 600-acre Norton Commons (pictured), can sustain the upfront costs of geothermal through economies of scale. “The large-scale guys have it figured out; ...

Lee Wallender is a home improvement writer of nearly 20 years and specializes in home remodeling, repair and maintenance. Sami Allen is the managing editor at Forbes Home, with over seven years of ...