9 Spruce Needle LaneBlue Hill, ME 04614Price: $599,000

Hand-crafted passive-solar home in highly desirable Blue Hill. Set back from the road on a private lot surrounded by evergreens and moss-covered rocks, this property offers seclusion while being only a short distance from the center of town. Built by a boat builder, the home is truly unique and environmentally sustainable, utilizing a convective loop or ''envelope'' design. In winter, the sun warms the generous south-facing greenhouse, which transfers heat into the home's interior living spaces. In summer, an air chimney can be opened, allowing warm air to escape by convection while drawing in cooler air from the north side. This design maintains a comfortable year-round temperature, and even on the coldest days, the greenhouse remains well above freezing. The open-concept kitchen and dining area is the center of the home. Artistic details include a walk-in shower with handmade tile accents and two beautiful stained-glass windows. The different levels give this house a spacious feel on a modest footprint. Recently added heat pumps provide heating or cooling as desired, and a central wood stove can be used as an auxiliary heat source. A second building, located 200 feet south of the house with its own parking area, is currently used as an acupuncture practice. This structure includes a full bath and could serve as a guest cottage. Close to walking trails along Peter's Brook and convenient to the Yacht Club, this special property offers both privacy and proximity to the best of Blue Hill.