A TWO-WAY STREET: Nelson makes her old home more energy efficient by “interacting” with it. During the hottest months, she closes the shutters over the doors while leaving the slats open to keep the sun at bay. In winter, the shutters hold heat inside. Her November energy bill was $40.

“Besides, I love the visual of the shutters behind the door,” she said.

Antique Eastlake doors found at The Bank, an architectural salvage store, create a tight seal against the Louisiana climate.

Dittrich-Lips Art Glass cut red, green and purple glass for her kitchen door, which lets in sunlight and splashes of vivid color. Beautiful blue and rose glass from the 1930s or ’40s in the bedroom door came from Attenhofer’s Stained Glass Studio in Metairie.

Nelson also restored the home’s original plaster walls.

“Plaster is energy-efficient and keeps you incredibly cool,” she said. In her estimation, the destruction of plaster walls and hardwood floors after Hurricane Katrina represented real architectural tragedies.

via Comfort meets energy-efficiency in a restored Holy Cross shotgun | NOLA.com.