HOMES AND GARDENS: Landscape architect Eunice Wong in the garden of the “Green Garden, Green Roof” property, among the homes and gardens on the 2025 Princeton Green House Tour. (Photo by Lisa Marcus Levine)
By Anne Levin
Since Sustainable Princeton and the Princeton Environmental Commission (PEC) began collaborating on the Princeton Green House Tour three years ago, more than one curious participant has asked that Accessory Dwelling Units, better known as ADUs, be included. This year’s tour, set for Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., grants that wish.
Two ADUs — “Little Blue ADU” and “Adorable Dempsey Unit” — are on the list of local properties that show how residents can create healthier and more energy-efficient homes and gardens with green building practices such as solar panels and rain gardens. So are four new sustainable gardens, along with five homes: “SustainAbeLeigh Historic,” “Cool on Cuyler,” “Mrs. Brown’s Lucky Oyster Bar,” “Radically Radiant,” and “Hillier House.”
“This is the most locations we’ve ever offered,” said Elana Berk, communications and outreach manager at Sustainable Princeton. “Every year has gotten a little bigger and a little better. From Sustainable Princeton’s perspective, we get a lot of questions about ADUs. The tour answers all those questions. It’s a different type of living space, and you can see how it fits into the neighborhood fabric.”
Princeton Council approved the construction of ADUs in 2020, allowing homeowners to add second living spaces to their properties.
“For aging in place, these are great examples of ADUs that are a little different from each other in feel,” said Lisa Marcus Levine, PEC commissioner. “One is very compact, and the other one has two stories. The smaller one has one bedroom and the couple that built it loves it. It has an amazing garden, which is also part of the tour.”
“Little Blue ADU” is a fully electric building that integrates solar, composting, and rainwater in a small footprint. It features solar panels, an air-source heat pump, a rain garden, rain barrel, composting, and on-demand hot water. “Adorable Dempsey Unit” is a compact cottage designed for aging in place, featuring superior insulation, an air-source heat pump, a heat pump water heater, an energy recovery ventilator, triple-pane doors, and a low-maintenance exterior.
Preceding the tour on Thursday, September 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., new videos of green homes will be screened at Princeton Public Library, followed by a discussion with a panel of experts. All are welcome to this free event; no previous registration is necessary.
Though admission to the tour on Saturday is also free, registration is mandatory and participants must be at least 18 years old. Tours are guided and timed, so participants need to show up at the times they have been assigned. The last opportunity to register is Thursday at midnight, and can be done at the library event. Visit sustainableprinceton.org for details.
Three of the properties on the tour are repeat participants, though some have new features. “SustainAbeLeigh Historic” is a fully electric house that respects its historic roots. “Hillier House,” the new home of Town Topics Publisher Bob Hillier, is a modern, fully electrified home with a green roof for energy efficiency and ecological impact. “Radically Radiant” is a retrofit with radiant floor heating and cooling with ground source energy and passive solar design.
“Mrs. Brown’s Lucky Oyster Bar,” which was featured on the 2023 tour, is an energy-efficient renovation using sustainable materials and advanced mechanical systems for comfort and efficiency. It gets its name from the preponderance of oyster shells that were found during the excavation process. “Cool on Cuyler” is an all-electric home blending reclaimed materials and Passive House-level airtightness, with triple-pane windows and doors, heat pump and water heater, and additional features.
“Green Garden Green Roof” is a multi-functional garden space combining stormwater management, habitat support, and edible planting. “Pollinator Paradise” is a compact space that nurtures native species and pollinators while producing vegetables, and maximizes its small space.
“Live Streaming Yard” is described in tour literature as “a yard designed with stormwater management and native plants in mind.” The owner, local naturalist, Steve Hiltner, writes a blog and helped create the Botanical Art Garden (Barden) at Herrontown Woods. “King of Compost’s Garden” is “focused on closing the loop with composting and water management.”
Most of the spots on the tour are within biking distance of each other; many are walkable from each other. “We’re hoping people will utilize some of the public buses and bike lanes,” said Levine. “It’s all in the spirit of the tour.”
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