DESIGN YOUR HOME WITH GOOGLE: Couple builds eco-friendly home like no other using free program.

Many Internet users rely on Google to instantly find information about almost anyone and anything. Philippe and Thao Jeanty went a step further. They used Google to design their solar-powered home in Fairview, Tenn.

“The beauty of Google Sketchup is you can move things around until it looks good. Anything Google does is good. And it’s free,” said Philippe, a physician who practices radiology in Nashville.

Using Google Sketchup, a 3D modeling program usually used by architects, engineers and other design professionals – not homeowners – the couple drew the plans for their home and all of its high-tech, low-environmental-impact features on a computer screen.

Bad news for architects.