Even casual observers will immediately notice the alternate energy
features in this winner of the 1990 Residential Project Award
from the South Western Ohio Association of Energy Engineers. Partially
bermed, facing most of its glass southward, crowned with active
solar collectors, and sitting with its almost windowless back
to the private drive along its north and west sides, this home
is a design collaboration of the owner and John F. Robbins of
Robbins Alternate
Energies.
Except for a small loft and 2nd floor equipment room, most of the 2,200 sq. ft. three-bedroom floor plan is on one level. The kitchen, dining and living areas, plus a study are all open to each other, and they share a panoramic view through the sunspace. The 300 sq. ft. sunspace faces its 162 sq. ft. of vertical glass 8 degrees east of south. Solar radiant heat is stored primarily in the sunspace's concrete slab. Solar heated air is moved into the house via manually operated doors and ceiling slopes. Summer cooling is accomplished with window and door ventilation and window shades.
All of the main exterior construction materials (foundations, floors, walls, and roofs) are foam core panels. Individual foam-core assemblies were very large, some up to 8 x 24 feet.The tripane, low-UV glass windows are fixed, casement and awning styles. The 54 sq. ft. of active solar roof panels by Entropy Ltd. are tilted up for maximum solar gain, year round. The solar panel array was designed to satisfy 50 to 60% of the yearly hot water demand.
This all-electric, 2-occupant home, even with its hot tub and many electric conveniences, had a utility bill of only $808.02 for 1992, an average of $67.34 per month.