OCTOBER 2, 10am-4pm,
SOLAR TOUR 2004:
ROBBINS HOUSE IN NKY
| Built in 1986, this originally 1500 square foot 3-BR split-level home was acquired by John Robbins and his wife in 1997. He first upgraded HVAC, lights and major appliances for efficiency, then increased insulation, improved air-tightness and altered window treatments for better day lighting in the home’s older parts in 1998 while adding a new 600 square foot passive solar super insulated family room with a guest bedroom. The sunroom’s large quad-pane passive solar windows are tied to thermal storage in the slab floor, which is thermally protected by thick foam below and between its edge and the foundation. Recycled-fabric carpets and no/low-VOC paints were used during interior surface refinishing in 1999. Over 100 trees have been planted so far in the 5+ acre yard, which was once grazing pasture. Most trees are to the west and east of the house for optimum summer shading. |  |
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| In 2001, a 100-watt solar PV system with 300 AH battery storage was added to power John's home office "off-the-grid," as described in his article "1 Part Solar, 5 Parts Load Reduction" published in HOMEPOWER magazine in Oct/Nov 2003. During summer 2004, John began installing a solar water-heating system. |  |
Despite average electricity prices having risen by 11% since 1997, Robbins’ 2003 electric utility bill added up to only $707, the same as before the house size was increased in 1998 by 40%. With solar water heating in full operation next year, John expects the electric bill to be down close to $600 by end of 2005. About 1 cord of local wood is burned each year in the efficient low-emissions fireplace.
For more info about Robbins, his home or his design and consulting business, visit https://home.insightbb.com/~johnfrobbins or call 859-363-0376. For more info about the Alternate Energy Assn. (AEA), including past events and tour sites from prior years, visit and browse www.aea1.org.
Guided tours of this home during this solar tour occur from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, October 2, 2004. The tour of this home is hosted by Robbins, but the tour is sponsored locally by AEA and nationally by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Robbins and AEA are not legally affiliated with ASES or any of its chapters.
DIRECTIONS to 3519 Moffett Rd, in southern Kenton County, KY, 40 minutes south of Cincinnati:
From Independence KY:
Take KY-17 (Madison Pike) south past Nicholson to east on KY-2042 (Moffett Rd). Go about 3.5 miles, turning right at 3519 (split-level, with gray roof and blue shutters)
From Alexandria KY:
From US-27, take KY-536 west to KY-177 south to KY-2042 east (right turn at Kenton Lakes). Follow KY-2042 signs to turn left on Moffett Rd. Go about 1.8 miles, turning left at 3519.
From Walton KY:
Take US-25 north, to left on KY-16 east, to right on KY-17 south, to left on KY-2042 east (Moffett Rd). Go about 3.5 miles, turning right at 3519.
JR Davis & Associates (http://www. plexusmedia.com)
Copyright - 2004 by:
Alternate Energy Association
E-mail: aea@aea1.org