Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S U M M E R 2 0 1 6 110 montanatude. live it. wear it. www.distinctlymontanagifts.com Beautifully updated 4,434 sf., 4+ bedroom, 3.5 bath, cedar plank/ brick home offers Highwood Mountain vistas. Exceptional improvements include Shop/barn/ stable, huge indoor riding arena, outdoor arena, corrals, RV pad, fire pit, cross fenced pastures, and so much more. A Must See! Call Pade Peterson at 406-899-9378 $549,900 This 3bd., 3 bath, 3,000sq. ft.+/- home features gorgeous rock fireplace, open floor plan, tiled bath, and stunning kitchen w/hickory cabinets. Plus - deck off the dining room opens to beautiful land- scaped country living. Historic barn has been restored and very functional. Huge 56'x60' Cleary building w/14' side- walls and electric service. Fort Benton Realty, LLP 1426 Front Street Fort Benton Montana 59442 R OOM TO R O A M PREMIER PROPERTY Located 2 miles south of Big Sandy All of this on a very accessible 37 acres that are watered and perimeter fenced. For an appointment call Valerie Morger (406) 750-2866 or Mark Pyrak (406) 788-9280. Just listed at $595,000. AMAZING 30 AC. HORSE PROPERTY Minutes from Great Falls on US Highway 87 406-622-3803 800-406-0946 www.fbrealty.com LOKEN BUILDERS 1303-1/2 Dakota St., Missoula, MT www.lokenbuilders.com 406-543-1931 ABOUT: Full-service construction company specializing in practical, sus- tainable homes since 1994; focus on renovations and historic preserva- tion, with 85 percent of work in residential sector; owner has consulted domestically and internationally on energy issues and green building STEVE LOKEN, OWNER: "People in Billings, Bozeman, and Missoula are leading the way in green home building in Montana, but a few builders in smaller towns are also doing great things. Lately, in Bozeman and Missoula, a lot of homeowners have shown interest in solar water heat- ing and in generating their own electricity. "Today, buildings codes for insulation and air-tightness are stricter, appliances are more efficient, and there's an increased consciousness about energy conservation and the salvaging and reuse of building materials. We also have access to more and better sustainable products. Engineered wood products are a good example; made from smaller trees, they leave older, larger trees in place to tie up more carbon. Local suppliers and builders are responding to consumer demand for such products. "Are green homes more expensive to build? In some ways, they cost less, requiring less wood and less labor, for example. You need more in- sulation, but insulation is pretty inexpensive. Let me ask this: If you're concerned about cost, how do you justify spending $12,000 on a granite countertop when you can get a more sustainable countertop for $1,200. You can cut vegetables on either one. "Looking ahead, I'm excited about trends like the tiny house move- ment and better land use practices that encourage home clustering, multi-family dwellings, and shared-wall construction." In the Archives, find a related article called "How Green is Yellowstone?" www.distinctlymontana.com DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL This Missoula-area home by Loken Builders features super-insulated walls, salvaged and repurposed building materials, solar water heating, ultra-low-flush toilets, passive solar space heating, and a crawl-space food cellar. LOKEN BUILDERS

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