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Homes from the 2012 Tour
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
Home 1
This Shady Side home built in 1993 is an ongoing experiment in living lightly or sustainably on the earth. The main features of the house are lots of insulation, low-emissivity windows, a wood pellet stove, a solar cooker, nesting osprey, passive solar heating and cooling, photovoltaic power, a wood cooking stove and lots of fans instead of ducts to circulate heat. The treed living room, located on the waterside of the house, is a passive heated solar sunspace that is used as a heat source for the rest of the house. More important than these parts is the way these parts are integrated into a whole, the management practices which make it all work to create significant energy savings and the lessons learned which were carried on to my work on Passive House and Net Zero Energy designs. For more information go to Sansone Solar House on solarvillages.org.
Home 2
This home, completed in 2011, is off-grid with a 10 kW photovoltaic system. Heating is by a bank of 9 flat plate panel solar thermal collectors and radiant floor system. On cloudy days, this is supplemented by a two-ton geothermal heat pump, and in the worst weather, a Navien tankless water heater, all through automated optimizing controls. Cooling is accomplished through a unique geothermal in-floor radiant cooling system aided by 2 air handlers. The home is of timber frame and SIP panel construction with R-44 walls, passive solar engineering, an insulated precast foundation, and Serious quad pane windows. While the home is off-the-grid, it has all of the comforts of a typical home with washer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. A plug-in electric hybrid vehicle charging station was installed in mid-summer 2012.
Home 3
Strawbale house rebuild completed in spring 2010. The south wall is insulated passive solar design with blown in cellulose insulation. Strawbale construction in other three walls with deep overhangs to protect lime plaster from the elements. Earthen plaster interior finished with homemade (zero VOC) clay paints and alises. Site harvested trees create primary exposed support columns and beams. Extensive use of site harvested/milled timber used for both structural and trim features. Concrete countertops. Wood burning stove. Geothermal system for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. Acid-stained concrete slab ground floor for radiant floor heating and thermal mass for passive solar heat. House-mounted trellis keeps summer sun from reaching concrete slab. A 3.5 kW photovoltaic system is grid-tied with battery backup system. Permaculture landscape design in progress. Farm in Agricultural Preservation program. Chickens and goats.
Home 4
Original 1920s gable frame house was gutted and retrofit with strawbales. A timberframe addition was added to one end of the house and infilled with strawbales for insulation. A small loadbearing strawbale guesthouse was built by Builders Without Borders using lime and earth plasters and as featured outside the Capital building for almost a year. A small studio using a modified infill system was built and finished in local clay plasters. A variety of strawbale and plastering techniques were used. Boards, timbers and posts were obtained locally and milled using our sawmill or chainsaw. Lots of experiments in local reused materials, and timbers, trees, and found objects. Key themes are local natural materials, do it yourself, low cost, and non-manufactured..
Home 5
This house features 22 Canadian Solar 235W panels paired with 22 Enphase Micro-Inverters to meet 85% of electricity demand. It also utilizes 2 4x8 American Solar Thermal Panels and 80 gallon tank, paired with 80 gallon natural gas tank for hybrid year round operation resulting in significant water heating savings. This house was also super insulated throughout and air sealed. All lighting is provided by daylighting, fluorescent and LEDs, while using energy efficient windows. To reduce water consumption expenses, this house also uses low flow shower heads and other modifications to reduce toilet water usage, with plans to replace with ultra low flow toilets. It also features a high efficiency refrigerator, washer & dryer and dishwasher allow house to meet 100% of energy usage during spring months. There are plans in 2012 to add 3 kW of PV and electric enabled vehicle to virtually eliminate gasoline usage.
Home 6
2.7 kW PV grid-tied net metering system and 160 gal. solar hot water system; rain barrels; composted organic vegetable garden; planted 25 trees and bushes on property; programmable thermostats and zoned HVAC system; Toto low flush toilets; replacement low-e Anderson Renewal windows; high-efficiency 17 SEER rated Carrier Infinity air conditioner. This home was featured in a Washington Post Real Estate cover story in May 2006.
Home 7
Two solar panels serve to trickle charge a bank of batteries in the garage for emergency power availability. The backup is instantaneous and supplemented with a 6.5 kW natural-gas generator (converted by homeowner from gasoline). There is a 1600-gallon water tank that receives water from the roof; the water is used for lawn and garden purposes and relies on a pump for pressure. The lawnmower is charged from the solar panel system.
Home 8
The homeowner has a 1.6 kW grid-tied photovoltaic system (that is producing more electricity than is used), a solar air heater with solar-powered fan, two mini-split ductless heat pumps/air conditioners, a direct vent gas heater, a solar-powered attic fan, a solar light tube, 100% fluorescent or LED lights, cellulose insulation, a solar clothes dryer, no garbage disposal, a gas stove with no glow bar, and an organic fruit and vegetable garden with rainwater harvesting.
Home 9
Home 9 has been removed from the tour
Home 10
In 2008, we installed a small-scale (1.02 kW) system of grid-tied photovoltaic panels on the roof of our 1909 rowhouse, which provides between 40-50% of our electric energy. This system was 50% funded by a renewable energy demonstration grant from the DC government. We also received tax credits and have sold Renewable Energy Credits. Our system is an example to our community of a PV system that costs less than $10,000 and less than 10 years to pay back that will generate some of the energy needs for a home or small business that is conservation-minded.
www.rainforest-alliance.org
Home 11
The rowhouse was built in approximately 1890 and is12 ft wide with two floors over a crawl space, for a total of 870 sf of habitable space. When initially purchased, one-half of the first floor was uninhabitable due to water and termite damage. It has undergone a complete green renovation, including the creation of a new stair and light-monitor/solar chimney with 2.16 kW roof-top photovoltaic panels. All the HVAC systems have been replaced with high efficiency units. The windows have been replaced with double-hung windows as required due to a historic street designation. Interior improvements include a new full bath, new kitchen, study, dining and living room with a direct-vent gas fireplace. Sustainable materials include: bamboo and cork floors, low voc paints, recycled glass tiles, and paperstone counter top. Back yard improvements include: rainwater collection system, composting, vegetable garden and patio space with permeable paving. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry Metro DC Chapter selected the project for the 2008 Grand Award for Full House Green Remodel.
Home 12
This PV solar energy system has 168 solar modules and is expected to generate nearly 50,000 kWh of clean solar energy each year. All parts were manufactured in America, and to date, this is the largest, privately-owned and operated solar array in DC. The panels are expected to reduce the electric bill of the building by 20%. The panels displace more than 1000 tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of taking over 10 cars off the road during its projected operating life of 30 years. Prior to installing the PV system, the owner decreased the electrical load of the building by replacing incandescent lighting with fluorescent lighting.
Home 13
The Cohen/Gala Family have utilized their expertise in green building practices in their own home, using all environmentally friendly building materials and energy efficient lighting and appliances. Their latest green endeavor was to install a 12 kW solar PV installation and cool roof on their home. At the time, the installation was the largest in DC and received local and national recognition. The family also recently completed an eco-renovation and addition to their single family urban dwelling that was featured on the Discovery Channel's Renovation Nation television show. Their yard features an organic garden, rain barrel, compost, and has been certified as an NWF sustainable backyard habitat. To help Washingtonians live green, urban lifestyles, Ms. Cohen started livinggreenindc.com, and a Facebook Page (livinggreenindc) to provide green tips and highlight local events and products.
Home 14
Our home provides a perspective on how green elements (green roof, rain barrels and 2 kW of solar panels) can be integrated into a more traditional colonial revival home. More to the point, you can see that style and environmental concerns can be successfully integrated in a manner that satisfies family members who have divergent views on the relative importance of these issues. The greener elements were subsidized both by DC-sponsored programs (Green roof: http://www.anacostiaws.org/programs/stewardship/green-roofs; Solar panels: http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/apply-renewable-energy-incentive; Rain barrels and tree planting: http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/riversmart-rebates) and a Federal tax credit for the panels.
Home 15
This home is highly energy, cost and resource efficient, as well as nurturing and healthful. Come see the simplicity, beauty and pleasure of natural building as well as many green/sustainable technologies, including straw bale, living roofs, biodiesel-fueled radiant floor heat (and a hand pump to fill our diesel cars!), and a corn stove. Also, many parts of this home are from salvaged sources, creatively adapted. And as site work is as important as the building, there is an extensive storm water management plan, gracefully integrated into a beautiful garden (includes a retention pond, overflowing into a bog, with a rain garden around the corner, ending with pervious pavers on our driveway).
Home 16
We are building an urban homestead, meeting most of our energy needs from local solar power. We generate 100% of our electricity using our 4.4 kW solar panels, and by using energy efficient lighting and appliances. We heat our house 100% with our high efficiency Vermont Castings catalytic wood stove with salvaged local wood. With nearly 400 gallons of rainwater catchment capacity in 3 rain barrels, we are able to keep our water usage low. We eat fresh produce from our property nearly 12 months a year, harvesting fruit from our persimmon, plum, pear and fig trees, blueberry bushes, hardy kiwi and raspberry, concord grapes, shiitake mushroom logs, as well as our organic vegetable garden. Most of Takoma Park is too shady for food production, but we enjoy an abundance of sunshine and take full advantage of it.
Home 17
We have thirty-two 240 watt Kyocera solar panels across two rooflines and two Solar Edge inverters which are anticipated to produce in excess of 8,000 kWh annually.
Home 18
Big enough to be a commercial system this photovoltaic installation is a new alternative to residential solar for families who have poor solar access or may not have the financial means to place a solar system on their roof. 35 community investors (UPCS LLC) raised $133,000.00 to install 22 kW of solar panels on a church roof in 2010. The church buys solar electricity from the LLC at a rate below the PEPCO rate. The panels are producing about 25% more electricity than is consumed by the church and the excess is redirected to the grid. Through the MD net metering law, the LLC will be paid by PEPCO for the surplus electricity. LLC recently received their first check from PEPCO. The LLC expects to receive about an 8% profit on its investment over 20 years.
Home 19
5.8 kW solar PV provides two-thirds of the electricity used and some days, producing more than we use. Home features energy saving LG washing machine, CFL lighting and water saving shower heads. Air sealing and super insulation in the attic. Electric vehicles include a 144-volt Ford Escort, 2008 Prius, electric dragster, electric scooters and electric bikes. Lawn maintenance includes an irrigation system, General Electric Elec-Track garden tractor and an electric RoboMower. Composting bin for kitchen scraps and leaves.
Home 20
Solar panels are installed on the front roof of the house.
Home 21
Owner has driven electric vehicles since 1999. His current ride is a Toyota RAV4 EV- one of 328 in private hands in the world, 8 on the east coast. 6.4 KW solar system installed by Astrum Solar with Microinverters. Generator tap-in panel installed. USA Insulation has injected the walls with expanding "igloo cooler" type foam, and has put 28" of blown insulation in the attic- which made a far larger improvement than the wall insulation provided. During blackouts, the solar panels cannot power the home without a generator providing at least some of the power.
Home 22
36 Suntech 175 watt solar panels with inverter and monitoring system. Estimated to produce 7,842 kWh per year based on PV watts. Solar panels are installed on the roof with inverter and monitoring systems installed in the lower level.
Home 23
Ours is a 1986 contemporary which we have been gradually transforming into an low impact but extremely enjoyable home. We started with carefully protecting our trees, which, with extensive use of ceiling fans and directed ventilation, provide us with almost zero use of AC in the hottest summers. We have been working inside and out to make our house as sustainable as possible. Efficiency is one of the highest priorities when appliances need replacing. All erosion-prone lawn has been replaced with carefully contoured (as well as beautiful) gardens. With the recent addition of PV, we are now close to net zero use of energy through most of the year.
Home 24
20 solar panels total. Geothermal heat pump for heating and cooling. Replacement high efficient windows. Recent Energy Audit showed an air exchange rate of .35. Just .02 above an Energy Star Rating. All outdoor equipment is electric such as lawn mower, snow blower, weed trimmer, chain saw, etc.
For details and photos, see:
www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/20/prefab-friday-marylands-solar-decathlon-leafhouse/
www.solarteam.org/page.php?id=250
Home 25
This 1950s ranch house has gone through a recent greenovation to add solar PV, a cupola, more south facing energy efficient windows, exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS), and insulation in the attic and walls. Other features include a solar hot water system, solar attic fan, solar daylight tubes, kitchen counter tops made from recycled glass, recycled floor tiles in the foyer and rec room, and an airlock front entryway. The greenovation of the yard has begun with the installation of a 2nd rain garden, the start of a food forest, and 2 rain barrels. There is also an aquaponics system in the basement. www.hococlimatechange.org
Home 26
30 Panels were installed in two separate stages. Last year we were so happy with our output, we finished the roof off on the back of the house. We are at full capacity allowed by BGE and are very happy with our Green Brilliance relationship. The panels work fantastically and we receive compliments on the house all the time.
Home 27
Home 27 has been removed from the tour.
Home 28
The Retained Energy in an older house, by far outweighs any marginal benefit of new construction. This home is almost carbon neutral; with three solar arrays, two geothermal heat pumps and conservative lifestyle. Of the three PV arrays, 2 are pole mounted (one tracking and one fixed), and one on the garage roof. The house is a historic stone house from 1868. We are in the agricultural preserve so the climate is 5-10 degrees cooler than in the city or surrounding suburbs. The thermal mass of the walls provides a good heat sink so air conditioning is only required on the longest hot spells. As a practicing commercial Architect, I feel that to sell Sustainability to clients, I need to show I practice what I preach.
Home 29
20 SunPower 225 Watt Modules1 SunPower Inverter1 Wireless monitor and Web based monitoring.
Home 30
Grace, beauty, and ecological integrity. These are the principles embodied in the Earth Ministry Simple Gifts project at Dayspring. This project explores ways of living more simply, justly and in harmony with the earth. There are 2 small staff cottages and a solar strawbale greenhouse. Each cottage is 1250 sq ft and is designed to provide a well-crafted and energy-efficient home for a couple or small family. The cottages accomplished this in different ways including passive solar heating and cooling, well-insulated walls and roof (structural insulated panels (SIP)/blown cellulose), top energy-efficient windows and appliances, insulating window shades, living roof, FSC-certified framing lumber, geothermal/radiant heating and cooling, grid-tied and grid-independent photovoltaic panels, (purchased electricity from 100% wind), solar hot water, masonry heater, oak and cherry trim from trees on the land, earth plaster and milk paint wall finishes, stained concrete slab floors, bamboo and linoleum floors, fiber-cement composite siding and trim, roof water collection, and landscaping with native plants.
www.dayspringearthministry.org
Home 31
The 21st century farm house at Red Wiggler Community Farm was the UMD Solar Decathlon entry in 2005. Installed on the Ovid Hazen Wells Park in 2008, the 51 panels on the Solar House has generated more power than it uses year after year while being lived in continuously. As a result Red Wiggler, a certified Organic farm, converted one of its low horsepower tractors to electric to use some of the excess power. The 1947 Allis Chalmbers G with its new electric motor is now a working example of scale appropriate technology powered by the sun. The home also features solar water heating, triple-pane windows and doors, radiant in-floor heating, and used sustainably harvested wood and bamboo in the construction. The home was designed by an interdisciplinary team of University of Maryland students in architecture, engineering and related fields, and built by students and partners. The home took the "People's Choice" Award at the 2005 Decathlon and was donated to Red Wiggler by UMD. The house is now a full-time residence for farm staff. http://redwiggler.org/solar-house/
Home 32
North Gate Vineyards tasting room and production facility was built to LEED Gold specifications. Our 96 panel solar array is one of the largest installations in Loudoun County, and enables us to be net zero in power consumption over the course of the year. Besides the energy efficient features, we have used recycled, reclaimed or local products whenever possible. Our tasting room is designed around our recycled glass top bar, faced with reclaimed barn wood and surrounded by bamboo flooring. All coatings and adhesives were low VOC. A special CO2 monitoring system helps to guarantee peak indoor air quality at all times. During the construction phase, all waste was sent to a sorting facility, where over 85% of our construction waste was recycled or reused and diverted from land fill. Our daily operations include using recycled paper products, eliminating the need for paper towels in the restrooms, eliminating the use of disposable plates and cups, and single stream recycling of all glass/plastic. www.northgatevineyard.com
Home 33
We have utilized a number of features. One is an 8.64 kW PV ground mount system (36 panels). To this we have added a two panel solar hot water roof system. In addition we have an outdoor wood burning furnace that heats water running into a copper coil system into the air handler giving us central heating with wood. This same system heats our domestic hot water through a heat exchanger on the water heater. We also have a few solar night lights for walkway lighting. www.fuoginterbuildinc.com
Home 34
The pole-mounted PV array uses both net-metering and battery backup. The homeowner designed solar hot water system so that all the domestic hot water and heating (baseboard and radiators) is supplied by solar using a multi energy tank. The excess heat generated by the solar hot water system during the non heating season is pumped back in to the pool from April thru October.
Home 35
We have a 7KW PV system. We also have an on demand hot water heater and heat primarily with wood.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7
Home A
This Shady Side home built in 1993 is an ongoing experiment in living lightly or sustainably on the earth. The main features of the house are lots of insulation, low emissivity windows, a wood pellet stove, a solar cooker, nesting osprey, passive solar heating and cooling, photovoltaic power, a wood cooking stove and lots of fans instead of ducts to circulate heat. The treed living room, located on the waterside of the house, is a passive heated solar sunspace that is used as a heat source for the rest of the house. More important than these parts is the way these parts are integrated into a whole, the management practices which make it all work to create significant energy savings and the lessons learned which were carried on to my work on Passive House and Net Zero Energy designs. For more information go to Sansone Solar House on solarvillages.org.
Home B
This 1,900 sq ft home has two bedrooms, three bath rooms, in a loft style townhouse in Active Adult Community built in 2001. Comfortrack with SideTrack cellular blinds and DIY window quilts keep the home more comfortable. The attic has R-55 insulation, and the sunroom has operable skylights with a rain sensor. Deep overhang on the south side of the home helps prevent solar gain in the summer, and landscaping on the south side provides protective vegetation . The homeowners use clothes drying racks, a water-sense toilet, and they use water from rain barrels to water the plants. Approx 1,900 sq ft. Skylights in sunroom have rain sensor and power shades and provide ground floor passive ventilation to reduce need for A/C; 2 kW PV system; energy efficient cellular window blinds; rain barrel; landscaping planting to shade south facing windows in summer; deep overhang for sunroom to shade from summer heat; use of drying racks for clothes drying. Sunroom also has stampcrete flooring and thick concrete slab to act as thermal mass.
Home C
This contemporary, 2950 sq ft, frame structure has 83% south-facing windows and skylights. A solar-powered fan distributes heat into the house in winter and exhausts heat in summer. A vertical closed-loop geothermal system and a high velocity air-to-air system provide heating and cooling. An efficient Finnish fireplace allows the owners to enjoy a fire. Insulation includes R19 fiberglass bats in the walls, R13 fiberglass bats with R3.8 polystyrene in the walls, and R30 fiberglass bats in the ceilings. An air-lock entry, Tyvek wrap, and foam caulking reduce air infiltration. Windows are of low-E thermopane glass. Skylights and a Solatube provide daylighting, and the electric lighting is fluorescent. Clerestory windows allow natural ventilation. Other energy-savers include a timer on the water heater and low-flow shower heads.
Home D
Homeowner constantly striving to reduce carbon footprint through installation of 18 solar panels, efficient energy practices, upgraded insulation, low carbon energy systems, and addition of trees and native plants/ground cover.
Home E
Home of the DIY. The early pioneering energy efficiency progression of this house has attracted much attention, from the gas company (is your meter broken?), to a newspaper article on the super insulation, to Fairfax county inspectors (We have not seen such an actual Solar Hot Water design/installation), to a half hour TV program. The owners who live in ultra comfort refused to move to a newly built but less efficient home upon retirement. The house sported an Energy Star Rating of 9.8 even before the Solar Electricity was installed. The house was 3 years old when purchased in 1975. (3000 sq ft). The homeowners immediately began to retrofit for super insulation. Insulation was completed in 1983 at which time the furnace was turned OFF. Furnace not needed until 1990 when they became Empty Nesters. Their problem is no central furnace OR AC made, even apartment size, is small enough.
Home F
This 2250 sq ft Ryan home, built in 1981, has achieved a carbon-neutral footprint with a combination of a grid-tied, 13.3 kW PV system, solar heated water, ground-source heat pump, Energy Star appliances, LED lighting, and upgraded insulation. The original 1850 sq ft home sports a 2011 addition which has high efficiency windows, 2x6 R27 walls and R63 ceiling.
Home G
12 electric panels with micro inverters, 6 drain-back solar collectors preheat water which is fed into a tankless gas water heater that monitors input water temperature and adjusts the flame depending on how much heat is needed.
Home H
Home H has been removed from the tour.
Home I
The owners of this home installed a 3.68 kW grid-connected PV system including battery backup with financial assistance from a grant and tax credit from the State of Maryland and Montgomery County. Most rooms except for bathrooms have ceiling fans decreasing the need for air-conditioning. All appliances are Energy Star compliant. Kitchen and shower heads replaced with low-volume water devices. First floor rooms were all recently repainted using eco-friendly paint brands. Kitchen countertops and tiling also recently replaced with recycled eco-friendly materials.
Home J
4.75 kW solar photovoltaic system consisting of 21 Green Brilliance panels. The solar thermal system is a 5.2 kW system consisting of 2 4 ft x10 ft flat panels with an 80 gallon tank storing the solar heated water and a 40 gallon conventional gas heated back-up tank.
Home K
This 1920's Sears kit home was re-retrofited in 1985 and again in 1993 to incorporate several solar features including solar water heating and a 2.5 kW polycrystalline and thinfilm photovoltaics system on the upper roof and .5 kW of new solar electric peel and stick PV roofing shingles on the metal roof on the front porch as well as a solar attic vent fan. The solar charges a large 24 gel cell glassmat battery bank. A rear sunroom adds passive solar heating and Virginia's first electrochromic glass. The newest addition to the home is a direct-exchange ground-coupled (geothermal) heat pump. Behind the house, 1 kW of solar electric roofing shingles on the small office building along with a .5 kW small wind turbine and a new 2 kW hydrogen fuel cell for back up power all charging a smart, web-enabled battery bank. The office building has an efficient ductless heat pump, the newest R 7-9 windows, and incorporates CFLs and bundled LED lighting, a solar daylight tube, and a solar-driven ceiling fan. The site also boasts of four commercial solar generators and water purifiers, a new 2010 Prius with PV, and a newly retrofitted education van with high-performance PV, 1 kW fuel cell, new gel-super capacitor battery bank, powering an all-weather large video screen.
Home L
In crafting an addition to a circa 1910 rowhouse, opportunities to leverage new technology in the additional space and solar panels presented opportunities to shape physical modifications with a green slant. A recipient of an energy efficient project grant, the owner incorporated a number of features to increase energy efficiency when expanding the physical footprint of the dwelling. Bathroom was designed to optimize the sunlight and an energy efficient cooling system was selected. Insulation that was formaldehyde-free and lighting strives to meet the need to use less and maintain more easily the new space. The solar panels can be observed directly from the 3nd floor deck and a Locust tree installed with the coordination of Riversmart.
Home M
1908 Queen Anne Victorian rowhouse renovated by an architect couple from 2002-2006. Renovation included reuse and restoration of original Heart Pine flooring and American Chestnut doors and trim. 3.23 kW PV system with 15 Sanyo panels with Enphase micro-inverters and Enlighten web based system monitoring. Potential future plans include the addition of more PV panels and a solar hot water system.
Home N
Turn of the century Victorian home relies almost entirely on solar for electricity and cooling, and renewable fuel (wood pellets and corn) for heating. LED lights help keep lighting costs down - this big old house has over a hundred lights! Trees and landscaping provide additional cooling in summer. Rain barrels irrigate yard. Green roof planned for garage.
Home O
Solar panels produce net metered feeding into the grid. The panels blend in with the roof nicely. During our first summer with the panels we estimated a savings of $1,000 on our electric bill or about 40%. The homeowners also sell their Solar Energy Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs).
Home P
The Cohen/Gala Family have utilized their expertise in green building practices in their own home, using all environmentally friendly building materials and energy efficient lighting and appliances. Their latest green endeavor was to install a 12 kW solar PV installation and cool roof on their home. At the time, the installation was the largest in DC and received local and national recognition. The family also recently completed an eco-renovation and addition to their single family urban dwelling that was featured on the Discovery Channel's Renovation Nation television show. Their yard features an organic garden, rain barrel, compost, and has be certified as an NWF sustainable backyard habitat. To help Washingtonians live green, urban lifestyles, Ms. Cohen started livinggreenindc.com, and a Facebook Page (livinggreenindc) to provide green tips and highlight local events and products.
livinggreenindc.com
Home Q
PV, solar hot water, efficient lighting, low water consumption.
Home R
13 Sanyo HIT Power 215A panels (2.795 kW total) with Enphase microinverters and battery backup system were installed by Standard Solar in January and October 2011 (10+3). In 15 months since March 2011, they have generated 3.67 MWh, which covered 97% of electricity consumption of the house with grid-tied net metering. The backup system provided electricity to critical loads during four grid outages, including the big ones in January and August (Hurricane Irene) 2011. By improving energy efficiency, annual electricity consumption was reduced from 6 mWh in 2010 to 3 mWh in 2011. Closed-cell no-VOC foam insulation was injected into exterior walls by USAinsulation.net and greatly reduced AC usage for cooling (only 47 days in 2011) and natural gas for heating. All lights are fluorescent; electronic devices are on switched power strips; appliances are selected for high efficiency by DOE ranking at EnergyStar.gov. The new kitchen fridge (GE) consumes less than half of the old one. We have finally solved the problem of summer humidity in a large basement with the super-efficient dehumidifier Santa Fe Impact XT bought in March 2012. Roof and attic overheating in summer is significantly reduced by Solaris reflective shingles, reflective foil in the attic, ridge vent, and solar fan to maintain good air circulation. South-facing windows provide passive solar heating in winter. Lower thermostat setting in winter results in better humidity. Showerheads are low-flow.
Home S
Our home has a 6.02 kW photovoltaic system leased from Solar City. There are 30 panels that are installed on two roof surfaces. The panels can withstand up to 130 mph winds due to the manner in which they are installed. Each panel weighs slightly under 40 pounds which facilitated installation and meant that we did not have to reinforce our roof to support their weight. The panels are configured so that if any one panel is in shade, that panel no longer generates power, but the rest of the system continues to generate power. We drive two Toyota Prius hybrids and we are busy incorporating both edible plants into our landscape (blueberries, figs, asparagus, and herbs) and Maryland natives.
Home T
Through a 20 year lease agreement with Solar City, the owners recently installed a 8.17 kW grid-connected PV system. Other efficiency enhancements to the home include a completed whole house energy retrofit, a TED electric monitoring device, a heat pump hot water heater, a chimney balloon, Energy Star appliances including a refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, and an electric induction range. Lighting throughout the home consists of both CFL and LED lighting, and the installation of two sun tunnels in areas of the home with no natural light. Resource efficient upgrades include low flow showerheads and faucets on all plumbing fixtures, dual flush toilets, and rain barrels. All completed finish work includes American Pride zero-VOC paint.
Home U
In 1982 the homeowners installed a Reynolds solar hot water system and received a rebate from the State of Maryland for the cost of the system. In early April and late September the owner manually switches between the gas backup system and the solar water heater. A gas boiler supplies a four-level water baseboard heating system for this 2500 sq ft home. Each level has its own set back thermostat and ceiling fans.
Home V
Installed 2 kW grid-tied PV system with 48 BP Millennium MST-43 MVI amorphous modules and Xantrex Sun Tie XR 2.5 kW inverter in 2001, using $3600 Maryland grant and 15% tax refund for total cost of $3625. Although more originally, it is still producing 1800 kWh annually. We also added Solatube tubular skylights in hall bathroom, kitchen, living room, and one bedroom; and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) throughout for lighting. Ceiling fans, tree shade and opening/closing windows and shades keeps the house cool much of the summer. We increased insulation and added ridge vents and replaced most windows and patio doors with Andersen low-E units following an IR scan by Infrared Predictive Surveys, Inc. In 2011, we replaced a failing gas furnace and electric AC with a Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) geothermal system with two 225 foot wells and Bosch TA035 furnace. Price of $20,825 minus $1,500 state grant, 30% federal credit, and $5k county property credit for total of $8,077 is comparable to a standard high-efficiency furnace and AC, and should be more efficient.
Home W
The owners installed a 520 watt grid-connected PV system with a grant from the state of Maryland as part of the Million Solar Roofs project. Solar tube skylights decrease the need for lights in the central bathroom and kitchen. Light fixtures and lamps all use compact fluorescents, T-8 fluorescents with electronic ballasts, or high efficiency screw-in LED bulbs. Ceiling fans have energy-saving blades with dimmable compact fluorescent bulbs. Insulated window quilts and Roman shades protect the home from air infiltration, and the automatic sensor-activated faucet helps conserve water. The homeowners have four high efficiency ductless heat pumps that dehumidify the downstairs and air condition the upstairs in the summer, and heat both floors in the winter. Cooking outside with a portable solar oven on summer days, or on a chimney-style charcoal grill that requires no lighter fluid, decreases the load on hot summer days. Toytota Prius hybrid electric vehicles get them around reliably with great gas mileage.
Home X
The owners built a Passive Solar House (modified envelope system) in 1981 with the following characteristics: 500 sq ft of south-facing exterior glass; thermopane glass on south and east faces; no glazing on west face; triple glazing on north face; vestibule/air chambers at all points of entry/exit; 240 sq ft thermopaned sunroom in envelope; insulated window quilts on all north and east windows; crawl space under basement floor (part of envelope); six-inch exterior walls factory prefabricated from 8 foot by 16 foot sheets of 4½ inch extruded polystyrene (EPS) for fewer points of thermal break; roof constructed of 3-inch EPS/particle board sandwich over insulated attic; compact fluorescent bulbs throughout house.Recently, the home was modified with the following upgrades: R38 to attic insulation; total = R52; insulating tent around the attic entrance; installed 6 mil poly on crawlspace floor; sprayed 1/2 inch foam on all band boards in crawlspace and all top plates.
Home Y
We have 16 Schuco 185 W modules on 2 circuits with Enphase microinverters that have produced 3.88 mWh over the last year. Additionally we have a solar attic fan and a tankless water heater. Combined with the energy efficient appliances, practices and devices, the electric portion of our last energy bill was a breathtaking $12.10!
Home Z
We have taken our ordinary townhome and over the past 2 years we have done nearly every energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrade we could. The home features a 3.15 kW Suntech solar electricity system installed by Standard Solar and a 2 panel Schuco solar thermal hot water system. The PV system was installed in 2009 and has consistently supplied 85% of our home's electricity needs. The solar hot water system was installed in October of 2011. The SHW system has covered 100% of our hot water needs with the back-up electricity shut down since March. Similar performance is expected through October. In the winter (Nov-Feb) it covers a much smaller portion of our hot water needs. Our home also has new Energy Star appliances. (dishwasher, fridge, and washing machine) We installed a new high efficiency 16 SEER air conditioner, and a 95% efficient gas furnace in 2010, which cut our gas and electricity needs significantly.
Home AA
20 SunPower 225 Watt Modules,1 SunPower Inverter,1 Wireless monitor and Web based monitoring.
Home BB
Grid-tied solar panels, solar hot water, Energy-Star appliances, dual-fuel heat pump/gas furnace, dual-flush toilets, rain barrels, rain garden, solar cooker, outdoor composting, vermicomposting, edible landscaping, 4-season gardening.
Home CC
Revamped 7 year old Virginia center stairway colonial style 6,600 sq ft house to cost an average of $70 per month for all heating, cooling, cooking and electricity use. Two solar PV arrays 3.5 and 1.9 provide much of this home's energy. Features such as an air lock front entry, 18 x 7 Sun porch off kitchen, geothermal ground source heating and cooling; closed cell foam insulation, solar attice exhaust fan, mechanical grid powered attic exhaust fan, rain barrels; 18 x 12 retractable shade awning, CFLs help the homeowners keep their energy expenses low.
Home DD
Providing an atmosphere like no other, Sunset Hills Vineyard shares spectacular mountain and sunset views, pastoral old-world style farm grounds and a stunning Amish restored historic barn. We are dedicated to making fine wines and doing it in a way that is gentle on the land. Thats why were using Virginia sunshine twice, first to ripen 20 acres of Virginia grapes and again with our 154 solar panels to produce enough electricity to power our winery and winemaking operations. www.sunsethillsvineyard.com
Home EE
North Gate Vineyards tasting room and production facility was built to LEED Gold specifications. Our 96 panel solar array is one of the largest installations in Loudoun County, and enables us to be net zero in power consumption over the course of the year. Besides the energy efficient features, we have used recycled, reclaimed or local products whenever possible. Our tasting room is designed around our recycled glass top bar, faced with reclaimed barn wood and surrounded by bamboo flooring. All coatings and adhesives were low VOC. A special CO2 monitoring system helps to guarantee peak indoor air quality at all times. During the construction phase, all waste was sent to a sorting facility, where over 85% of our construction waste was recycled or reused and diverted from land fill. Our daily operations include using recycled paper products, eliminating the need for paper towels in the restrooms, eliminating the use of disposable plates and cups, and single stream recycling of all glass/plastic. www.northgatevineyard.com
Home FF
We have utilized a number of features. One is an 8.64 kW PV ground mount system (36 panels). To this we have added a two panel solar hot water roof system. In addition we have an outdoor wood burning furnace that heats water running into a copper coil system into the air handler giving us central heating with wood. This same system heats our domestic hot water through a heat exchanger on the water heater. We also have a few solar night lights for walkway lighting. www.fuoginterbuildinc.com
Home GG
Solar water heating panels on a shed; the hot water is piped underground into the home. A timer withholds power to the electric water heater during night. Home automation turns off lights in idle rooms and outdoors. The three solar PV arrays provide twice the energy needed for commuting in the electric car. Edible landscaping includes blueberries, blackberries, peaches, apples, pears, elderberries and walnuts.
Home HH
Now in our seventh year after going solar, we have a pretty good feel for how things work. Before adding 4 kW of ground-mounted solar and making various efficiency improvements the electricity usage in our small home was about 1000 kWh per month. Now it is about 300 kWh per month averaged over the year, which works out to a monthly bill of approximately $40. Even this small cost is more than offset by the Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) that we sell! Solar is fun and easy; solar is (gasp) even cheap! The price of panels today is only about 1/3 of the cost when we started our system. And the Feds are actually giving a 30% tax credit (till 2016) to help pay for YOUR solar system. If you have a good place to put some solar panels, what are you waiting for?
Home II
This house has functioned as the model home at EcoVillage of Loudoun County Virginia. Designed by Greg Franta, one of the cofounders of the American Institute of Architecture's Environmental Committee, it has a variety of passive and active solar features as well as other environmental attributes. A drive through the subdivision reveals many green features including gravel roads with benign dust suppressants, clustered homes with preserved forest and meadow areas, streams, springs and a pond. The common area is organically certified and the lots in the community are organically managed. Its south sloping lot supports the two-story structure with a one-bedroom apartment basement; all built in the vernacular Virginia style. Multifunction rooms, 9ft. and cathedral ceilings, enhance the feeling of space. The north, east and west facing sides of the house contain fewer and smaller windows. Ecovillage homes feature energy-efficient designs using passive solar, active solar, geothermal heating and cooling and many Green building materials.
www.ecovillages.com
Home JJ
Victorian Home with 2.8 Kw roof mounted solar electric which provides 1/3 of electricity, grid tied battery backup. The rest is purchased as wind power from our local utility. Monthly electric bill for this 4000 sq ft house including the fully used basement, is $100. 16 batteries provide 24 hours of backup in any weather for garage, basement, kitchen & family room, virtually unlimited with sun shining. A 2 rack Thermomax evacuated tube solar hot water with 2-80 gallon tanks provides 80% of hot water from solar, rest by propane backup. Energy star appliances. 95% fluorescent bulbs. Low flow toilets and faucets. Grasstrac and grassblock permeable driveway. No septic system; Incinolet toilet. Bio-based spray foam insulation. Detached air conditioned garage is straw bale load bearing construction, with green roof and solar radiant heat combined with passive solar garage door. Garage stays over 60 degrees for all but 5-10 days per winter.
Home KK
A 3000 sq ft, two-story, wood-frame house built in 1996 in a suburban development north of Baltimore occupied by a family of four plus two large dogs. After concerted effort to reduce our electricity usage, we now consume less in spring and fall and consume more in summer and winter than the 18 grid-tied photovoltaics produce (5000 kWh annually).
Home LL
I have been greening my home for several years and my net energy consumption (as measured by utility bills) is 1/4 that of others for a house my size, partly because of my solar systems and Tempcast masonry wood burning stove, partly because of my spartan ways. I have tried to achieve green living with beauty and creativity. Among the solar/green aspects in my home are a 1.4 kW grid-tied PV with an additional 0.6 kW off-the-grid to run a SunFrost refrigerator. I also have evacuated tube solar water heating with a tankless gas backup system. Other features include inflectors on some windows and skylights, window quilt, mini-split AC in 3 rooms, passive ventilation with venting skylights.
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