The Carbondale Cape is located just thirty miles from Aspen, in the heart of Colorado's Central Rocky Mountains. With low cooling requirements in this climate, the home utilizes ceiling fans combined with natural ventilation as well as night cooling rather than a mechanical cooling system to maintain comfort during the summer months. Compared to a code built home in 2004, the 1,200 square foot Cape uses 40% less energy as a result of building a high performance enclosure and installing a high efficiency mechanical system. Cavity insulation between rafters and rigid insulation below rafters comprise the thermal barrier in the vented roof assembly. Cavity insulation is held 2 inches from the roof deck to allow adequate air space needed for roof ventilation. The home’s walls also have a combination of cavity and rigid insulation in addition to high performance windows. The conditioned crawlspace provides room for mechanical equipment including the instantaneous hot water heater, fully ducted heat recovery ventilator (HRV), air handler and ductwork. Installed Energy Star appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) also contribute to the home’s low energy use.