This document summarizes an energy efficient home that utilizes solar, wind, and rainwater collection systems. The home was designed with energy star construction including optimal orientation, insulation, windows, and appliances. It generates electricity through a hybrid solar/wind system and heats water solarly. These green features reduced the home's electricity usage by 60% and gas by 40% compared to a typical home. The renewable systems were estimated to increase the home's building costs by $8.18 per square foot.

2. An Affordable Energy Efficient
Home Utilizing Solar and Wind
Power and Solar Hot Water
John Gardner, PE

3. New House
Completed May 2004

4. Energy Efficient
Residential Construction
Utilizing:
Energy Star Construction
Green Building Materials
Rainwater Collection
Solar Hot Water
Hybrid/Solar Wind System

5. Energy Star Construction
• House oriented North/South
• South & West walls shaded
• Skin Vent wall construction
• Continuous soffit & ridge vents
• 14 SEER A/C
• Rigid A/C ducts w/R-8 insulation
• Fresh air intake
• R-30 attic, R-19 wall insulation
• Radiant barrier roof deck
• White metal roof
• Double pane, Low “E”, vinyl frame windows
• Energy Star Appliances

6. Site Orientation
North
West
East
South

7. White Metal Roof
House
Wrap
Radiant Barrier

8. Skin Vent Wall Construction
Top Vent
3/4” air gap
Siding
Bottom Vent

9. Sealed Wall Penetrations

10. Double Pane Windows
Low- “E” Vinyl Frame
Minimum SHGC
for Energy Star
= 0.4

11. 14 SEER Air Conditioner

12. Green Building Materials
• Low VOC Paint
• Engineered Beams
• Fiber-cement Siding
• Formaldehyde-free insulation
• Cork Flooring
• Minimal construction waste

13. Minimum Construction Waste
We used ½ of one of these containers

14. Solatube
Skylight

15. Home
Performance

16. Summary
• Ventilated attic
• Attic temperatures are reduced
• Temperature and humidity levels in the
attic are dynamic
• Energy costs are reduced
• Results achieved with standard
materials and common building practice

17. KWH Usage per Month
2500
2000
Typical House in our Area
1500
KWH
Our Old House
1000
Our New House
500
0
Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Month

18. Energy Savings
• 60% less electricity compared to a
typical house in our area because of
energy efficient construction and
Solar/Wind power.
• 40% less gas compared to previous
year after adding Solar Hot Water
Heater & supplemental heat
• Reduced Carbon Footprint

19. Supplemental Heat
Heat Powered Fan
Vermont Castings
Dutch West
Wood burning stove
With Catalytic
Converter

20. 110
100
90
Attic Attic vs.Outside
e p r tue e . )
Temperature
T m e a r (D g F
80
Outside
70
60
50
New Construction
Our New House
40
8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 1:00 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00
AM AM AM AM AM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM PM
Time of Day
130
New House - White Metal Roof
Radiant Barrier 120
Ridge Vent Attic Temperature
110
Continuous Soffit Vents
Temperature (Deg. F
100
90
80 Outside Temperature
70
60
Old House - Dark Composition Shingles Previous House
Soffit Vents 50
Inadequate Ridge Vent 40
8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 11:00 AM 12 Noon 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM
Time of Day

21. Recommendations
• Site orientation is very important
– Shading
– Prevailing winds
• Utilize Energy Star® recommendations
– Reduced energy/water requirements
– Reduces heat load in the house
• Keep the heat out of the house
– Reflective roof
– Porches
– Light exterior paint color

22. Recommendations
• Adjust the air conditioner properly
– Run long enough to remove humidity
– Utilize good sealed air ducts
• Reduce indoor heat load
– Compact fluorescent lamps
– Efficient appliances
• Maintain good air quality
– Non toxic building materials
– Fresh air intake
• Educate your builder!!!

23. Icing on the Cake
• Hybrid Solar/wind system
– Generate 190 KWH/month
• Solar hot water heater
– Preheat well water to 90-100 deg. F
• Rainwater collection system
– Collect 1400 gallons in a 1” rainfall

24. $6.75/Watt installed
Battery backup System

25. 1 KW Bergey XL-1 Wind Turbine

26. 1000 Watt PV Array

27. Solar/Wind Control Center

28. Solar Hot Water Collector

29. Solar Hot Water Circulator

30. Secondary Tank
With Heat Exchanger

31. Rainwater Collection System
Sealed
Downspouts
Storage Tank

32. How much did all this cost?
• Base line house cost
• Hybrid Solar & Wind
• Rainwater collection
• Solar Hot Water

33. Added Cost/ft2 to the House
2100 Square feet
• Solar/Wind - $6.43
• Solar Hot Water - $0.88
• Rainwater Harvesting - $0.87
• Total - $8.18/ft2
Cost to build the house - $64.00/ft2 Ave. sales price
$8.18/ft2 in our area:
$72.18/ft2 $86.90/ft2

34. How much did it cost?
This? Or
This!
This?
This?

35. Solar Energy
At Work
Everyone
can do it!

36. The Future

37. Thank You!
Home, Sweet Home