AEA/ASES Solar Tour 2002

See area map for general directions.
Allen & Ann Rainey's
Off-the-Grid Camp Amakanata
Hwy 101, Brookville, Indiana;
765-647-1652 (Camp)
513-860-2433 (h); 513-477-5126 (cell); allenrainey@juno.com
Barb Davis’
Superinsulated, Solar Healthy House
850 Carpenter Rd., Loveland, Ohio
513-683-8156; BarbD850@yahoo.com
Built in 1991, this 2580 sq.ft. home was designed for energy-efficiency and superior indoor air quality. A sunspace with thermal storage stretches across the south face of 2-stories, providing a mid-level airlock entry from front porch and garage. Lower walls and floors are permanent wood foundations (PWF), upstairs walls are structural insulated panels (SIPS) and roofs are high-heel trusses. The garage buffers the front door from prevailing SW winds and adds summer afternoon shade to the sunspace windows. Fluorescent lights and solar water-heating also help lower this home’s utility bill, only $1068.24 last year.
This expanding campsite is off-the-grid with 1 KW of power from solar electric arrays and a Air 403 wind generator. Standalone system includes charge controller, batteries and inverter for operation of lights, well pump, fans, tools, phone, battery recharging, etc., for two cabins, restrooms and a barn/meeting hall. Toilets are composting and showers are solar heated too. The camp is 5 miles north of Brookville on Highway 101, at the bottom of the hill just north of Garr Hill, but south of Mounds State Park. The 1/4 mile gravel drive goes eastward off 101, through the white gates. Keep driving until you see the solar arrays!
Chaz Kaiser’s
In-Ground, Passive Solar, Dome Home
16 Indiana Ave., Batesville, Indiana
812-934-4468; skulptor@seidata.com
John Robbins’
Solar Addition & PV-Powered Office
3519 Moffett Rd., Morningview, Kentucky
859-363-0376; jrobbins@queencity.com

Built in 1992, this 1360 sq.ft. home has two floors. Structure is made of 4" thick concrete (Shotcrete). Insulation over the top of the earth-covered dome is approximately 6" thick sprayed-on foam. 2" thick foam insulates the sides. The front wall is 6" stud walls filled with spray foam. Heating is mostly the Sun, a small fireplace, and a natural gas hot water heater feeding a radiant-hydronic floor. Worst typical winter monthly heat bill is $40. Cooling cost is minimal with a very small AC unit used mainly to take out the humidity in the worst summer months.

Built in 1986, this originally 1500 sq.ft. split-level home was purchased by Robbins in 1997. He replaced its HVAC system, major appliances and lights with much more efficient units. He also increased insulation and improved airtightness in the older sections while adding a 600 sq.ft. superinsulated passive solar family room with thermal storage. A solar electric system with batteries was also added to power a home office. Nearly 100 new trees have been planted so far in the 5-acre yard. For all of 2001, the electric bill was only $751.39. Only about 1 cord of wood was burned last winter in the low-emissions fireplace.
See area map for general directions. Consult other sources or contact homeowners in advance for specific directions. If you are running early or late, please contact homeowners to make sure early or late arrival is acceptable. Please consider that most of Indiana is not on eastern daylight savings time like Ohio and Kentucky, so local times may vary.