Energy Green Home Tours
A Passion for Passive and Sustainability
The house is built to a rigorous standard for creating ultra-low energy buildings that consume up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling. The home was built to age-in-place and was designed to produce all the power the home needs with a minimum of solar panels and battery backup.
It features induction cooking, harvesting free heat from the sun, overhangs to prevent overheating from the sun in the summer, an air-source heat pump, a heat pump water heater, and energy recovery ventilation. The house was designed from the ground up to be durable to reduce maintenance, and ensure the longevity of the building. This all-electric home is combustion-free with a sustainable landscape.​
Built to Be Net Zero
This house was built using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for their superior energy efficiency, strength, and faster construction time compared to traditional framing. Airtight, continuous insulation provides high R-values, leading to lower energy bills and a more comfortable indoor environment. Solar panels, and battery backup produce the power needed for the highly-efficient air source heat pump.
Other green features include a rain catchment system and gardens and animals for local food production.​
Energy Efficiency Upgrades with Roof Mounted Solar
A 2,700 sq ft cape built in 1979. The owner added reduce air leakage which which makes the home more comfortable and more energy efficient and added insulation over time.
A ground-source heat pump provides heating and cooling, and hot water is provided from an energy-efficient heat pump water heater. Roof-mounted solar was added, along with battery storage and EV charging. All of this eliminated the oil furnace and oil water heater.​
Energy Efficiency and Ground Mount Solar
It began with a ground-mounted solar array, sited in a pasture, and designed to to meet the home's electricity needs.
Then came the EV pickup truck, along with EV charging, battery storage, and a heat pump water heater.
The latest addition is an air-source heat pump, eliminating the need for oil for heating or hot water. Out went the oil tanks!​