Barbara Rose and Keith Kleber's business, Silverbell Trading Company, was included in a 2003 national tour of solar homes as an example of a green storefront. Double-paned windows on the south side of the building retain the heat gain from the sun in winter, while overhangs block the summer sun. Solatube skylights stretch down through the well-insulated (R-40) roof, providing light without heat gain. The older windows were retrofitted to be double paned. Sandblasting the original wood and brick removed any possible residues of lead paint and provided an ideal surface for applying a natural clay-based paint the owners made themselves.

The recycled wood and rammed earth blocks make an attractive backdrop for the Native American and local arts that are the store's specialty. Works are by living artists, most of whom work in sustainable ways, says Rose. The store also carries an extensive selection of books on permaculture, sustainable living in the desert, and the ecology and culture of the Southwest.