Welcome to AEA's 2005 Solar Home Tour
Part of ASES's National Solar Tour
October 1, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm (except as posted below)
(Note: AEA is not affiliated with ASES or GEO)
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 $1262.37 for all of 2004. Since Barb's retirement in 2003, she has started a long arm quilting business in her home, doing that work in the sunspace and two rooms on the lower level where the space and lighting have proven excellent for her needs, even though this was not a consideration in the design of the house in 1991.
Off-the-Grid Camp Amakanata
Hwy 101, Brookville, Indiana;
(513) 521-0708 (Cincinnati home), (513) 519-5126 (cell)
allenrainey@juno.com
This expanding campsite is off-the-grid with 1.4 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.
Solar Additions & PV-Powered Office
3519 Moffett Rd., Morningview, Kentucky
859-363-0376
johnfrobbins@insightbb.com
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 increased insulation and improved airtightness in the older sections while adding a 600 sq.ft. superinsulated passive solar family room with thermal storage. The addition included a low-emissions wood-burning fireplace. A solar electric system with batteries was added to power a home office. A solar water-heating system is being installed now, hopefully finished by the tour. Nearly 125 new trees have been planted so far in his 5+ acre yard which was once pasture. The total energy bill for 2004 was $811 for utility-supplied electricity and about 1 cord of firewood purchased from a neighbor.
EarthConnection Ecological Demonstration Center
370 Neeb Rd., upper east lot of Mt. St. Joseph College
Delhi, suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio
513-451-3932
(See 2nd paragraph below for morning vs afternoon events)
Founded by Sr. Paula Gonzalez, completed in 1995, this 3,900 sq ft superinsulated, well-daylit commercial structure is passive solar, with large 4-pane-thick south windows, a sunspace, big overhangs, few east or west windows and operable windows for natural ventilation. The upper south roof is covered by a grid-tied 1.3 kW solar PV array. A lower south roof supports 360 sf of solar thermal collectors that provide heat to the building via the slab in spring and fall. The thermal panels also heat potable water year-round. In summer, collected solar heat is stored below ground for later use as primary heat the next winter. All backup and security lighting is fluorescent and halogen. The building contains many used and recycled materials, both in original and altered forms. Kitchen and bathrooms feature low-volume faucets and plumbing fixtures.
EarthConnection will be open for free public tours only from 1pm to 4pm. From morning until 1pm, Green Energy Ohio (GEO, www.greenenergyohio.org) is offering formal presentations, a tour and lunch, followed by organized transportation to/from other GEO and maybe AEA's other Ohio site(s). GEO is charging a small fee to cover expenses for all that and a handout guide. Please check back here or with GEO for more info about this GEO event, for which RSVP may be recommended. GEO is not affiliated with AEA.
JR Davis & Associates (http://www. plexusmedia.com)
Copyright - 2005 by:
Alternate Energy Association
E-mail: aea@aea1.org