National Tour of Solar Homes

Most guided tours meet at one central location and some tours will ask for a small donation to cover the cost of renting facilities, refreshments etc. Some of the facilities viewed via these guided tours are also open from 10 am-4pm as part of the larger tour. Please consult the individual state listings for those specifics.

Massachusetts

Solar Boston and the Boston Area Solar Energy Association will be conducting a guided tour focusing on solar homes and businesses in Cambridge, Medford and Belmont. In addition, participants in the guided tour will learn about a special "green loan" offered by Wainwright Bank and Trust Company. The tour will leave from the Porter Square Shopping Center at 10am. The Shopping Center is located at 9 White Street in Cambridge (at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue), in close proximity to the Porter Square stop on the red line of the MBTA. Thanks to support from Wainwright Bank and Trust Co., the event is free. Free parking will be available. For more information on this tour please visit www.solarboston.org/events.htm

Tours of both buildings will be led by Paul Lyons. He can be reached @ 617-285-0634 on October 13th 2001 only.

Tour will meet @ Porter Square Shopping Center @10:00 am. Tour will proceed to Greenworks, reconvening there around 10:45 am.

Wainwright Bank and Trust will be helping to sponsor this guided tour to help to promote their "Green Loan"- a home equity loan that offers 1% off the interest rate of a standard loan for people pursuing solar projects.

More information about Porter Square:
Developer: Gravestar, Inc., Cambridge, MA www.Gravestar.com
Size:123,000 sq. ft. with 15 retail stores.

Recognizing the need to renovate the Center, Gravestar teamed up with the community of Cambridge to create a plan to renovate the existing strip center and construct a new building while improving and protecting neighborhood communities. Gravestar agreed to a unique written memorandum of understanding with the Cambridge community regarding such hot-button issues as: parking, traffic, delivery and truck management. The result is 160,000 sq. ft. with 18 retail stores and several retail incubators. The $13 million renovation project, which was executed in accordance with Gravestar's "Green Bible" of sustainable real estate principles and practices, included: the installation of a 20-kW, roof mounted photovoltaic system (PV) that produces enough electricity to power nearly all the common areas of the strip center portion of the plaza; landscaping that adds 400 new trees and shrubs to Porter Square; a new drainage system that reduces the adverse effects of surface runoff to sewer
systems and waterways by capturing and cleaning storm water and either using it to irrigate landscaped areas or allowing it to infiltrate groundwater; low-emission tiles instead of high VOC carpeting; timing control for parking lot lighting efficiency; energy efficiency glazing; increased wall thickness/insulation; up-to-date HVAC packages on new construction; highly reflective R-25 roofing; low VOC roof insulation; and operable insulated windows. Vendors and tenants were also given an operations checklist with recommendations ranging from pesticide-free landscaping to recycled toilet paper. In keeping with its plan to support local independent businesses and enhance the quality of life in the Porter Square community, Gravestar provides a business assistance program aimed at encouraging local entrepreneurship at it's "retail incubator" at the Porter Square Shopping Center. Retail spaces are rented well below market rates to business concepts such as Mudflat Gallery, River Jhelum, and Otro Lado, which would otherwise not have entry-level access to such a high retail sales setting. To enhance the quality of life in the community, Gravestar also supports numerous community organizations, such as Little Green Thumbs, an organic gardening program benefiting 2,000 Cambridge public school children annually, and the Somerville Art Beat Festival in Davis Square.

Porter Square:
The Porter Square Shopping Center features a 20-kilowatt
solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the main building. The 80 PV modules are connected to an inverter in the basement, which in turn is connected to the local electricity utility grid. An interactive display with touchscreen is located in front of Tag's Hardware Store. It shows real-time energy production, system performance and ambient conditions. The same information is summarized each
day on a web page at http://209.21.219.20/ Go to the site, then select the
State of Massachusetts, and then the Gravestar site.

Greenworks:
6 Kilowatt grid-connected photovoltaic system
Computer PC display of real-time and historic energy production.
Architect: Ron Margolis, Cambridge MA
Builder: Paul Lyons, Zapotec Energy, Cambridge MA
Size: 25,000 sq ft, renovation of a factory
Building Style: 3 story brick office bldg
Year Built: 1998
Location: Urban
Utility Information: 14,000 Kilowatt hours produced in two years.

New Hampshire

Following is a description of the 2 Guided tours that Solar Works, Inc. is offering:

1) Concord Area

From Interstate 93: Take exit 16. At end of exit ramp, make a right. Follow brown and white “Conservation Center” signs to the center.

From Interstate 393: Take exit 2 onto East Side Drive. At exit intersection, make a right onto East Side Drive

o SPNHF – This site will be open all day, the description for this site can be found under the SPNHF listing as a tour site.

o Two residential solar domestic hotwater systems, both are in Concord, NH. Both are domestic hot water solar heating systems (closedloop). Components include: two 4’x8’ collectors and one 80 gallon storage tank.

2) Wilton Area

Tour will start at 10:00 AM at Solar Works, Inc. 28 Howard Street, Riverview Mill, Wilton, NH 03086. (603) 6546619

o From the East: Take Route 101 West past Amherst exits. Approximately 1 mile after Route 101 takes a hard left at a traffic light you will see a sign for the Wilton Business District, go right (there is a Bank of New Hampshire at this intersection). Follow for about 1 mile into downtown Wilton, go left just before the post office. Go over Railroad tracks and down to right, behind the Riverview Mill building. Park anywhere and look for the Solar panels over the door. Solar Works’ entrance is the next door down.

o Home #1, Amherst, NH – Photovoltaic (PV) solar electric system (Utility interconnected) with battery backup. Components include: 24 Astropower 110 Watt PV modules with a Trace 5548 (5kW) DC to AC inverter and 8 batteries.

o Home #2, Peterborough, NH – Photovoltaic (PV) solar electric system (Utilityinterconnected). Components include: 24 Astropower 110 Watt PV modules with 3 GC1000 DC to AC inverters.

o Home #3, Wilton, NH Photovoltaic (PV) solar electric system (Utility interconnected) with battery backup. Components include: 8 Astropower 120 Watt PV modules with a Trace 4048 (4kW) DC to AC inverter and 8 Trojan 350 Amp hour deep cycle batteries.

New York

Area covered - St. Lawrence County in Northern New York State, area around Canton and Potsdam, and one home in the village of Adams, Jefferson County, south of Watertown.

This is a self-guided tour. You may pick up maps at the following locations: The Potsdam Food Co-op and the Newman Center in Canton. For questions please contact Ann Heidenreich at Community Energy Services, Inc. 325 North Woods Road, Hermon, NY 13652, Tel & Fax: 315-379-0959
Email: ces@northnet.org

Participating homes:

Please note: The Wetterhahn home is also open from 10 am-4 pm as a part of the National Tour of Solar Homes.
Address: 10272 Wright St. Road, Adams, NY 13605
Phone number: 315-232-3547
Architect: Bruce Brownell, AAE, Edinburgh, NY
Builder: North Country Construction, Philadelphia, NY
Construction cost compared with conventional construction: 10-15% higher

Size: 3850 sq.ft.
Style: Modern
Year Built: 2000
Location: Rural
Utility information: 5 face cords of wood used as back-up during first
full winter

Solar features: Passive solar house. 80% of energy to heat comes from sun; super-insulated 6-sided envelope with R-values of R-38; thermal mass system keeps temp even; south side has highest % of glass, oriented to sun; sunny, bright rooms; small fan at base of central air shaft circulates air through gridwork of pipes in concrete slab and then up to vents in each room.

General considerations: relative humidity levels of 45-50%; minimal drafts; air filtrated 3x/hr (keeps down dust); house will never freeze, can leave empty all winter!; must have back-up heat source if no sun for 1-2 days.

Directions: Inter-state 81 to Adams/Henderson Exit #42; Left on to Church Street; straight through only traffic light in Adams; Left on to Wright St. Rd (at edge of village); approx. one mile on right, brown house on hill (10272), light green mail box, steep driveway.

Erik Schulze [This is a solar powered woodworking shop]

Architect: self
Builder: self
Construction cost compared with conventional home: less
Size: 18' x 18' plus wings
Building style: woodshop
Year built: 1998
Location: Rural, Town of Russell
Utility information: Off-grid, wood and passive solar heat. No monthly costs.
Solar features: 48 volt system. Four 110-watt Astropower solar panels. Four 12-volt 250 amp hour surrette batteries. Trace 4048 sine wave inverter. Runs house and woodworking shop. Passive solar heating for house and shop.

General considerations: Woodworking shop provides my full time employment in the winter, some in summer. I use a full array of medium sized machines mixed with a good bit of hand tool work.

Scott Shipley

Architect: self
Builder: self
Size: 1200 sq. ft.
Location: Rural, Town of Canton
Utility information: Off grid, solar/wind hybrid house.
Solar features: 300 watt solar array @ 49 volts with Air 303 wind generator on tilt-up tower.

General considerations: This is a small, off-grid home for a family of four (2 adults, 2 young children) with modest energy use. There is currently no running water or refrigeration system, but system is growing and will eventually provide these. Home is heated with 5 to 6 face cords of wood annually.

Bryan Thompson

Architect: owners
Builder: owners and Bryan Lee
Size: 1600 sq. ft.
Year built: built in steps - 1979, 1992, 1996
Location: rural, Dekalb Junction
Utility Information: Off-grid, micro-hydro and solar electric. Building is passive solar. Wood heat, 12 face cords/year.
General considerations: This is a family home and farm (2 adults, 2 small children). The house was first built as a passive solar structure with a heat sink to store solar heat, later incorporating solar photovoltaics and hydro-powered electric generating systems. The barn and guest cottage are also powered by solar PV.

Ann Heidenreich

Design: Bryan Lee
Builder: Bryan Lee
Size: 1984 sq. ft
Building style: modern
Year built: 1997/98
Location: rural, hamlet of Pyrites
Utility information: on-grid with average $20/month electricity bills;
propane-fired on-demand domestic water heater and cook-stove; wood for heating (8 face cords/year)
Solar features: Passive solar house with R-38 walls and R-60 ceiling.
General considerations: Unique design to fit into environment, built with local, sustainably harvested wood and (mostly) natural materials, masonry stove provides heat, indoor garden, energy efficient appliances and lighting.

Several homes will be showcased on the national passive solar home tour. They share some common features that have been developed across more than 25 years of experience with 300 passive solar homes.

Key to their performance is a 6 sided unbroken insulation envelope. ( i.e.: N,S,E,W, roof and underneath) The insulation used is Celotex Thermax, a foil faced polyisocyanurate applied in 2-2" overlapping layers. In combination with the frame, inside and outside finishes it yields a performance R value of R36. Much care is also taken in sealing all penetrations with the highest quality caulk and installing a quality ground membrane everywhere underneath. This yields an energy performance 7 to 9 times better than the typical new home insulated to "code" requirements.

Next, one must orient the structure south with the best method utilizing your shadow at noon standard time. With more glass on the south (by no means do these homes have huge amounts of glass, usually 8-14% of the ground print) and only a few north facing windows. The site must include enough land southerly of the structure (120'-150') to allow most trees to be cut so the house has an appropriate "solar window".

The final feature is a mass integrated air handling system. This is accomplished with a fan in a centrally located air shaft, which obtains its air from all the upper spaces and pulls it down through HEPA filters. It is then directed through an extensive ductwork system in a heavy mass (usually 12" of concrete) under the lowest floor and back to all individual rooms. With proper design, the air system can eliminate over heating on sunny days and store the excess solar energy in the mass (thermal flywheel) for return to the home that night or the next day. The fan provides other benefits which are filtering dust, eliminating stratification, yielding even temperatures throughout and integrating backup heating and cooling with the mass.

These three elements can be provided in whatever size, shape, and style home desired. The several homes will showcase backup heating with propane and wood as well as an insulated root cellar. One will have an opportunity to converse with the house occupants about their experience. A tour guide will provide guidance and answer questions. For full details on where to meet please call Bruce Brownell at 518-863-4338 or via the Adirondack Alternate Energy website.

Vermont

SE Vermont

Tour location and time: 9am at Brattleboro Food Co-op on Lower Main Street, donation requested

Directions: From north or south Take exit 1 off I-91, then right (or left if you are southbound) on to Canal Street. Follow Canal Street till it turns into Main Street and Rte 113 from Hinsdale, NH. The Co-op is on the left at that intersection, in the Brookside Shopping Plaza. From the east From Rte. 9 in New Hampshire, cross the Connecticut River into Vermont. Go straight through the traffic lights, and get on to I-91 south. From there, follow the above directions. From the west Follow Rte. 9 West into Brattleboro. Stay on that road until it intersects with Main Street at a set of traffic lights. Take a right onto Main Street, go straight through the next two sets of lights. The Co-op is on the right about a block after the second set of lights, in Brookside Plaza.

Property Name: "Earth Sweet Home" house
Architect: Owners with consultation from many disciplines Builder: Timber Frame by Dan MacArthur with Straw bale by David Shaw and many others assisting owners with construction. Size: 2,000 sq. ft. Year Built: 1996 ongoing Building Style: Timber frame straw bale Location: Rural. Passive Solar Design with R-9 “Super-glass” windows. Photovoltaic panels and a wind generator provide electricity for all normal household uses as well as a fully equipped office. This is called a hybrid system. Trace inverter converts battery energy to 120 volt & 220 volt. Super energy-efficient appliances (electric and propane powered) and low voltage ceiling lighting have been used throughout. Hot water preheated using a solar hot water heater and/or the Masonry heater. Further water heating will be accomplished using a propane powered "On-Demand" tankless hot water heater. This is a fascinating experimental house built from all natural and local (within 30 miles of the building site) materials in the foundation, frame, roof, walls, and interiors. A 2 story structure.

Architect: Owners Builder: Owners Size: 1500 sq. ft. Year Built: 1974 and ongoing Year Renovated: 1988 Building Style: Custom. 8 old PV panels, 36 2 volt cells (60 pounds each), 21 years old, installed here 7 years ago. 12 volt DC system powers lighting, water, refrigeration and music. A Trace 1512 inverter powers washing machine, power tools, Cuisinart, and a homemade refrigerator. Compact fluorescent 12 volt lights (15 watt is bright enough for our needs). Homemade wind generator puts out 200 watts in a strong gust, 7-8 years old, used permanent magnet DC motor, 12 volt output, built tower out of spruce trees. Hot water via 3-4' x 8' collectors, 2 storage tanks (80 gallons and 40 gallons, the 40 gallon is also heated off wood stove that also provides space heating and cooking). Uses about 25 gallons of propane per year, primarily for cooking. When we had a gas refrigerator, we used 4 times that amount. 10 gallons of gasoline used annually for back up generator. We have 3 children. "Once our 7 year old child asked 'What's so special about our house anyway?' when people would visit or come to see our home." "Our place is definitely an unfinished place. This was my father's home and where I grew up. Ten years ago we brought in a phone line." For photos and story, see Vermont Life Magazine Spring 1996 issue.

Solar Home: 8 - 60 Watt panels, passive solar, Whisper H1500 windmill. Architect: Owner Builder: Jim Spencer Building Style: Post & Beam construction Renovation/Construction Cost: $250,000
Size: 3500 sq. ft. Year Built: 1994-1995 Location: Rural

Year Built: 1948 Building Style: New England Cape Location: Rural

An older NE Cape retrofitted for energy efficiency, sky lighting and Photovoltaic home electric systems for AC & DC electrical loads. Expanded Solar Greenhouse, solar domestic hot water with PV pumping, attached passive solar apartment (may not be available for viewing) Photovoltaic home electric system powering AC & DC Loads. Solar Domestic hot water Modified solar greenhouse. Sunnyside Solar designs, sells and installs solar-electric systems.

Central VT Tour (Montpelier Area)

Tour location and time: 8:45 am at parking lot at junction of Routes 2 & 14,

Year Built: ‘84 approx
Location: Rural
Utility Information: average 280 kwh/month aprox, heat with wood.

House if off-grid powered by solar electric. Solar array is a 4-ase 300 watt panels integrated into the top of the greenhouse. This house is a sun tempered super insulated home with an attached glass/steel/wood greenhouse (10 x 12’).
House also has:
no plywood; uses local wood, timbers, framing, & finish; reused materials; efficient appliances; non-toxic finishes (milk paint, linseed oil, etc); home office of Elemental Energy; and air tight construction CFM50= 722.

Architect: Jim Grundy
Builder: Jim Grundy
Cost Comparison:
Size: 1400 SF
Building Style:
Year Built: 1995
Location: Rural
Utility Info: Electric Consumption Avg: 2 Kwh/day Heat Cost $150 / yr wood propane for cooking, hot water, etc. $400/ yr

Total of 4 homes, 1 grid connect, 1 off grid, 1 passive solar, 1 solar domestic hot water

Charlotte Tour

Tour location and time: two tours, 10am and 2pm both starting at Charlotte Town Hall parking lot, more tours to be added depending on interest, call David Hill at 802-425-5354, for more information.

Size: 3300 sq ft
Building Style: Colonial
Year Built: 1975
Location Rural
Utility Information: Electricity: Grid connected net metered 10 Kw wind turbine & 5kw PV. All electricity from wind & sun on a yearly basis. Save $1200-$1400/yr.
Heating: oil & wood pellet costs: $800/yr Jan & David are the owners of NRG Systems Inc a leading wind measurement company. Working to have a completely renewables powered home. Use an electric motorcycle. Passive sunroom for heating. Garage is insulated & passively heated. Solar hot water system. Pool (18’x44’) heated with active & passive solar. 5kw PV (net metered) electric along with 10 Kw wind turbine.

This tour will include two other houses to be determined at a later date. Tour includes sites with Solar hot water, PV, Wind.

Strafford, VT and surrounding area

Coordinating Organization: Global Resource Options, LLP
Contact Person: Dori Wolfe
Phone: 800-374-4494 or 802-765-4632
Fax: 802-765-9983
Email: global@sover.net
Web: www.globalresourceoptions.com
Number of Homes/Businesses on Tour: 6
Fee: Free
Instructions: Visit off-grid homes, net-metered homes and homes utilizing state-of-the-art evacuated tube hot water heating technology.
Directions: Meet at the offices of Global Resource Options, Strafford, VT. From I89 take exit 2 in Vermont (Sharon). Take 132 toward Strafford. About 6 miles, at a T Stop (first stop sign), go left onto Justin Morrill Highway (a two lane road). Continue for 2.2 miles to the Strafford green. Stay left at the Strafford green onto Brook Road. Go about 1.25 miles to the second right (Kibling Hill Road). First driveway on the right is Global Resource Options. Guided tours leave at 9:30 AM, 12:00 Noon, and 2:30 PM. Office tours are open to the public from 9 AM to 4 PM.
Organization Description: Global Resource Options is a renewable energy firm dedicated to providing quality renewable energy systems and service to residences and businesses in northern New England. All systems are designed by registered professional engineers. Professional installation, knowledge of the construction trades and work with regulatory authorities set us apart

Guided Tours

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

1) Concord Area

2) Wilton Area

New York

Area covered - St. Lawrence County in Northern New York State, area around Canton and Potsdam, and one home in the village of Adams, Jefferson County, south of Watertown.

Participating homes:

Albany area

Vermont

SE Vermont

Central VT Tour (Montpelier Area)

Charlotte Tour

Strafford, VT and surrounding area

back to National Tour of Solar Homes 2001 main page

nesea@nesea.org
Copyright © 2000 All rights reserved by NESEA.

Guided Tours

Massachusetts

New Hampshire

1) Concord Area

2) Wilton Area

New York

Area covered - St. Lawrence County in Northern New York State, area around Canton and Potsdam, and one home in the village of Adams, Jefferson County, south of Watertown.

Participating homes:

Albany area

Vermont

SE Vermont

Central VT Tour (Montpelier Area)

Charlotte Tour

Strafford, VT and surrounding area

back to National Tour of Solar Homes 2001 main page

nesea@nesea.org Copyright © 2000 All rights reserved by NESEA.

nesea@nesea.org
Copyright © 2000 All rights reserved by NESEA.