ROSEBURG, Ore. — A 50-year-old blue porcelain toilet is not something typically found in a 21st century residence, but for Evan and Lorreen Barnes, the toilet is just one of many reclaimed objects in their new green home.

“We decided we wanted to build a house using a lot of alternative energy sources and recycled building materials,” Lorreen Barnes said. “We wanted to put our investment in saving our earth and saving money.”

Home showcased on green home tour

The couple’s home is one of four in Douglas County showcased during the annual Green and Solar Home Tour sponsored by the Global Warming Coalition.

Coalition member Scott McKain said the Barnes’ home is one of the most efficient in the county because of its compact design, small square footage and recycled materials.

The 2,200-square-foot home has concrete walls covered by interlocking pieces of Styrofoam-like insulation, Evan Barnes said. “They’re like Legos. They nest together, tongue and groove, keeping energy in.”

The 11-inch thick walls are more expensive to build than stick-built walls, but Evan Barnes said the return on their investment will pay off. “Every month from now on we’ll be saving on our bill,” he said.

The couple uses a 3,100-watt solar-electric system to take a chunk out of their energy costs. The solar panels often produce a surplus of electricity that goes back into the grid, Evan Barnes said. “Essentially our meter is going backwards when we produce more electricity than we need, and we’ll get a credit on our next bill.”

The home also uses a geothermal heating and cooling system that uses the earth’s constant 55-degree ground temperature. While conventional furnaces and boilers burn a fuel to generate heat, geothermal pumps use electricity to move heat from the earth into buildings.

Evan, a retired general contractor, built the house with help from a few other contractors. “Typically, I would charge about $200 a square foot, but my labor is free here so we saved a lot on that,” he said.

The couple estimate they spent only about $100,000 on building the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home because of their thrifty shopping and cheap labor costs. Lorreen Barnes, who designed and furnished the house, said they spent many hours shopping in warehouses and antique stores.

The hardwood floors in the living room are from an old hotel in Oregon that was torn down a few years ago, she said. The couple purchased the wood at 35 cents a foot from Heartwood ReSources in Green. “Compare that to $2 a foot brand new,” she said.

Old items for cheap

A 1950s gas cooking range was bought at a garage sale for $100. A 1930s soaking tub and a 1920s industrial sink came from warehouses that have recycled building materials.

Lorreen Barnes said they did splurge on a few new items, including kitchen cabinets, an upstairs bathtub and carpet.

“It’s fun findings things and figuring out how to reuse them in a practical way,” she said. “You don’t have to buy all new or all old. It can all fit together.”