National Tour of Solar Homes

Massachusetts

Berkshires Pioneer Valley Eastern Mass. Cape Cod

Berkshires

Richmond 465 Swamp Road

Contact Name: Stephen Congdon Phone #: 413-698-2703

Directions: Off of W. Housatonic St (Rt 20 W) at Friendly Ice Cream, Mobile Station, Fire Station, Traffic Light. Go 4 or so miles - on left find Bartlett Orchard on Barker Road (becomes Swamp Rd) in Richmond. Head toward Pittsfield (east); Congdon = first house on right (south) side.

From W. Stockbridge, at N end of the tiny main drag, at 15 mph sign, go straight, not left or right. Find Barletts Orchard on right of Barker Road (becomes Swamp Rd) in Richmond. Head toward Pittsfield (east); Congdon = first house on right (south) side.

Parking - 3 in drive, head in toward garage. The rest, on road side away from guard rail - on side w/field, pine trees. Footing may be uneven.

Home Information: Architect: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Cost Comparison: Unknown
Size: 1500 sq.ft. footprint, 1 1/2 floors
Building Style: Early American Cape
Year Built: near 1800
Location: Rural
Utility Info: present baseline = appx. 10 kwh/day. Refrigeration = 4-5 kWh/day, reduced from 12-13 kWh/day.

Solar Features: A. .5 kWh grid intertie PV on roof. No storage. Separate meter produces 15-20 kWh/week from April on - PV.
B. Drain-down solar hot water. Preheats domestic hot water feed. Self designed and built about 1982.
C. Two 1 kWh, pole mounted photovoltaic arrays. SG Ason adjusted. Not tracking. 100 ft conduit, 175 ft aerial to avoid wetlands; so PV source is 300 ft of conductor away from house. Each array can grid intertie, or can feed battery bank. Battery bank feeds inverter to be stand-alone for 4 sunless days - most critical loads selected by small transfer switches. Hence, system is both grid intertie and stand alone. Batteries may be charged by PV or grid. Old house - owner has been quiet solar enthusiast for nearly 50 years. Visitors can be shown a, b, c. Not the smoothest footing.

Williamstown Privacy Campground 2458 Hancock Road

Contact Name: Andre Rambaud Phone #: 413-458-3125 email:

Directions: Route 43 North Hancock, 5 miles south of cross roads of Routes 7 and 43.

NO DOGS ON TOUR!! CAMPGROUND HAS A DOG FREE POLICY. WELL BEHAVED VISITORS WELCOME.

Home Information: Architect: Self Builder: Self
Construction and Renovation Costs: $30,000 Renovations (repairs to hydro facility): $12,840
Location: Rural

Solar Features: Solar hot water, wind mill 12VDC, solar wood shed, 60' x 25' underground building HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT 120-240 VAC, 60CP Utility Info.: Gravity water system (no pumps) FREE. Electric bill is $6.60 (meter reading charge only). With their new electric heat their bill would be over $150/month

THE MAJOR ATTRACTION AT THIS SITE IS A FULL FLEDGE HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT, SELF STANDING AND SELF REGULATING. PLANT POWERS WORK SHOP, CAMPGROUND AND HOME.

Pioneer Valley

Amherst Pine St. Cohousing Condomin' Assn. 155-161 Pine St.

Contact Name: Bruce Coldham Phone #: 413-549-4794 email:

Directions: From junction Route 9 & 116 Amherst/Hadley head north on Route 116 3 miles to first set lights (Meadow St.) East on Meadow St., through set of lights at North Amherst Center (Meadow becomes Pine St.)-continue 500 yards see Pine Street co-housing sign on right (south) side-Park in guest parking as indicated by roadside sign.

Home Information: Name: Pine Street Cohousing Condominium Association
Architect: Bruce Coldham, Architect
Builder: Thayer Street Associates, South Deerfield, MA
Construction cost: $60/sq. ft.
Compared to conventional construction: same
Sizes: 980 sq. ft. to 1600 sq. ft. Year Built: 1993-94
6 houses (new)-8 total(2 existing) Year renovated: Existing house converted to duplex; w/ renovation & addition in 1988 Location: Suburban

Solar Features: Passive solar, PV-ready roofs. Building grouping ensures complete solar access to all dwellings. Energy Crafted home standard tightness (Envelope Leakage area less than 0.75 sq. in.) Central, exhaust-only ventilation. Ground source heat pumps. Clustered arrangement/shared resources equals more open space. Composting & community garden. "PV-ready" roofs-45 degree angle, south-facing clear-no penetrations & an interior space that supports it. Radon mitigation with 1" foam under slab.

Won 5 National/Regional Design/Energy/Resource Conserving awards. 8 families, with and without children (3-21 years old)

Charlemont 112 Maxwell Road

Contact Name: Amy Wales & Mark Allman Phone #: 413-339-5394 email:

Directions: Take 8A north off Route 2 at the center of Charlemont. Maxwell Road is the 2nd left after the Bissell Bridge (about 1 1/2 miles from Route 2). House #112 is the first driveway on the right before the pavement ends (0.6 miles from 8A).

Home Information: Architect & Builder: Owner Construction cost: $85,000 (house only)
Compared to Conventional Construction: Same but true cost does not reflect owner’s sweat equity
Size: 2000 Sq. Ft. Year Built: 1997 Building Style: Salt Box Location: Rural

Solar Features: Facade mounted 500 watt solar array, 880 amp hour battery bank, Trace 4024SW inverter. Propane refrigerator and root cellar. Total lighting load for the entire house equals 300 watts (i.e. if all lights were on at once). Passive solar design, south facing fenestration equals 9 percent of square footage. Basement slab is isolated and air circulation is built in. Exhaust only air exchange. Wood stove and exposed (interior) chimney. Super insulated R-35 walls and R-50 ceilings. We are off the grid. Our solar electric system cost approximately $10K including a 5.5 kW gasoline generator which is used once in two weeks on average (yearly cost $125). Propane for refrigeration, cooking and hot water is about $500-$600 annually. Heat comes from passive solar gain, 2 cords of wood harvested from our wood lot.

A central staircase on the south side and a salt box roof line were the points of departure for our design. The requirements: 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms, an “open” first floor and lots of light. The stair well acts as a light well and with mostly white walls, a bright winter day is dazzling inside. The wintertime passive solar gain is significant and the house stays cool in summer due to the overhangs.

Florence 940 Chesterfield Rd.

Contact Name: John and Dee Boyle-Clapp Phone #: 413-584-1703 email: Starlightllama@cs.com

Directions: We are located 10 minutes from downtown Northampton.

Take Rte. 9 West out of Florence. Pass Look Park, the VA hospital and Look Restaurant. Just beyond Look Restaurant at the Sunoco gas station is a flashing yellow light at Florence Road. Turn left at this light onto Florence Road. Travel 8/10ths of a mile on Florence Rd. to the Leeds post office. At the post office, turn left onto Reservoir Rd., and follow this road 1.4 miles to the end, where it intersects Chesterfield Road. Tour right onto Chesterfield Road. Pass the intersection of Chesterfield and Sylvester and Kennedy Roads. Look for the 940 sign on the left and enter the driveway. You can’t see the house from the road. The house is 8/10ths of a mile from the end of Reservoir Road. If you’ve reached the bridge, turn around - you have just passed us. For any questions please call us at (413) 584-1703, or e-mail us at starlightllama@cs.com.

Home Information: Architect: Owner designed Builder: John Clapp Building and Design
Size: 32 x 50, 2400 square feet. Style: Contemporary
Built: 1999 Location: Rural location
Special considerations:
No dogs, please.

Solar Features: Trace 4024, 4000 watt Inverter
12 Solarex vlx53 solar panels (total array 636 watts)
20 6-volt Trojan T-105 batteries
Owner-built solar hot water panel
All A/C wiring
Servel Gas Refrigerator
Aqua Star Tankless on-demand propane hot water heater
4300 watt Kawasaki generatorIn late 1998 we broke ground on a house we had planned for 10 years on land that has been in John’s family for six generations. The house was built using lumber from the land for framing and siding. To date it is 95% complete!

The house is completely off the grid, and uses a photovoltaic system to generate all of our electricity. To help charge the batteries during low light in the winter, we use a back-up generator once a week for two or three hours.

We get our hot water from three different systems, each according to the season. Our late-spring, summer and fall hot water comes from a home-built solar panel to collect sun under one section of greenhouse glazing. This system relies on thermal action to raise heated water to a 50-gallon storage tank on the second floor, so there is no need for circulation pumps. This system provides three to five showers per day in full sun. In winter we use either a tankless on-demand propane hot water heater and we also have a copper coil wrapped around the wood stove smoke pipe. The coil and solar water systems provide 90% of our hot water needs.

We have a greenhouse for passive solar gain as well as starting spring seedlings.

To reduce our electrical needs, we have switched to some alternative products including a gas refrigerator and compact fluorescent bulbs throughout the house. We are able to generate more than adequate electricity to run computer, television, water pump, a front load washing machine, and summer cooling fans.

This one photovoltaic system runs not only our home, but a farm, supplying water to 6 llamas, 2 emus, peacocks, geese, chickens, dogs, and a goat, as well as water for the garden. The barn electrical needs are minimal, though in the winter we need
lights for evening chores.

The home heat source is a combination of individual room-sized gas consoles and wood
stoves. Our wood comes from the property. Cooling is augmented by white roof shingles to reflect heat as well as light gray exterior walls. The house has standard R-19 insulation in the walls and R-30 in the ceilings. Interior walls are plastered to help retain heat and add character. In the fall of 2002 we will open Starlight Llama Bed & Breakfast, a solar-powered bed and breakfast. Guests will have a separate entrance, private baths, and will have use of the wood-fired hot tub. They will also have access to cross-country skiing on our 65 acres, and have the chance to enjoy some quiet time with the llamas. The three available rooms will give guests a taste of solar living and the opportunity to ask
questions, and experience the ease of living off the grid. We are more than thrilled with our combined systems and hope to excite others to try the same.

Greenfield 50 Miles St

Contact Name: Jack Kraichnan Phone #: 413-774-6051 email:jkraichnan@nesea.org

Directions: Directions to the NESEA Office in Greenfield, Mass

Home Information: Built in 1908

Solar Features: The offices of Northeast Sustainable Energy Association. Located in an older railroad building, NESEA has two separate photovoltaic arrays. The combined output of both is rated at 3 Kw. There are 5 Sunsine AC modules on the roof which are directly connected through the building to the utility grid. There is also a battery-storage system with a TRASE inverter. There is also a touch-screen PV monitoring system now online with real-time data from both of the arrays. There will be free literature available on NESEA’s programs. The battery-storage photovoltaic array is located in the adjacent Greenfield Energy Park which has educational displays, an arboretum, a kid’s train and a demonstration garden.

Leverett 98 Dudleyville Rd

Contact Name: Rich Karsten & Heather Hutchinson Phone #: 413-367-2828

Directions: Take I-91 to S. Deerfield & Sunderland exit; make a right off the ramp and right at the first light onto Rt 116 S. into the center of Sunderland. Make a left onto Rt 47. Continue on this until a sign directs Rt 47 to the left and intersects w/Rt 63. Cross over Rt 63 onto N. Leverett Rd. - look for sign directing to Lake Wyola. Pass through N. Leverett center. Pass by Leverett Village Co-op on route. Shortly after store on right is Dudleyville Rd (there is a sign across from the road for Mores Corner Church). 9/10 mile up Dudleyville Rd make a left through the red gates. Park by the barns and walk up driveway to house in back. (If you come to a sign that says Hannah Dudley house, you have missed our driveway.)

Home Information: Architect: Owner (professional builder & designer - conscious construction)
Builder: Owner Size: 1440 sq.ft. Building Style: New England Farmhouse
Year Built: 1999 Location: Rural

Solar Features: design w/additional thermal mass ensures year round comfort. The 720 watt PV Array provides all of our electrical needs w/o need for grid back-up. The 5 panel solar hot water system w/woodstove back-up provides all of our hot water needs. This compact, ecological home was designed for sustainability by minimizing environmental impact, while ensuring a comfortable, beautiful, healthy home. We used local, native lumber from a nearby mill, efficient, less wasteful building techniques, and chose to use materials low in typical construction toxins. We have incorporated some permaculture principles into our homestead which provides much of our family’s food, fuel & fodder.

Leverett 176 Long Plain Rd

Contact Name: Bob Strong Phone #: 413-548-9570

Directions: Rt 63 (Long Plain Rd) in Leverett to 300 yards north of Depot Rd. 1/2 mile driveway is on west side of 63.

Home Information: Architect: None
Builder: Owner
Size: appx 2000 sq. ft
Building Style: other
Year Built: 1985
Location: Rural
Utility Info: Off grid PV system. appx 500 watts w/inverter.

Solar Features: Passive solar heat. PV electric.

Monson 99 Bogan Road

Contact Name: Will Fuller Phone #: 413-267-9389

Directions: Exit 8 off Mass Pike east or West. Follow signs for Rt 32 S into Monson, MA. Approaching Monson Center, after Dunkin Donuts on left, take right before the statue in front of town library, and immediate left onto Ely Rd. Go up hill for 1 mile, and take left onto Bogan Rd. (street sign missing). Proceed until stop. Go straight through (still Bogan Rd.) - 9/10 mile, house is on right, #99.

Home Information: Size: 2000+ sq. ft.
Building Style: Contemporary
Year Built: 1987
Location: Rural
Utility Info: electric bills to be displayed.

Beautiful contemporary home, built in 1987 by high-end local builder. One of four deeded beach homes on Upper Stagecoach Lake. 2 story, 3 bedrooms, plus a loft. Master Bedroom w/full bath. Total 2 1/2 baths. Large south-facing deck looks out on in-ground pool and grounds. Hardwood floors and recent carpeting. Painted in summer 2000. Current and past owner did not have kids, so guest bedrooms unoccupied.

Solar Features: Passive solar design, Anderson double glass insulated windows. Amazing day lighting and natural ventilation. Window quilts on all windows downstairs, on main windows upstairs. Central Vermont Castings wood burning stove w/blower. Passive solar heating provides 2/3 of winter heating needs. New Well McLain furnace installed w/baseboard heating on both floors in 1999. All 2 x 6 construction with super insulation.

Northampton 152 Maplewood Terrace

Contact Name: Patricia & David Jackson Phone #: 413-584-6733

Directions: Please call homeowner for directions. Room for only four cars at the top of the drive-way. More cars will have to park in the road below and walk up the driveway.

Home Information: Property Name: Solarhaven
Architect: Self
Builder: Omasta & Malinowski
Construction Cost: $175,000
Compared to Conventional Construction: Perhaps higher by $2500
Size: 2200 Sq. Ft. 7 Rms, 3 BR
Year Built: 1978 - 2 years to build
Building Style: Ranch
Location: Suburban

Solar Features: Passive solar building with drain-down, 1 metal solar hot water heating; back-ups (not used in 9 years) of hydro hearth, wood stove, oil-fired hot water tank, supplemented with solar hot water tank, baseboard electric heat in two rooms. Triple-glazed windows, building blocks with styrofoam cores, solar window shutters (self-designed). House maintained at 76 degrees F with no back-up necessary for past 10 years. Two outside rooms with electric baseboards set at 45 degrees F. Six skylights. Utility Info: Cooling done through the heating ducts in summer by outside compressor. About 700 gallons utilized in 60 gallon oil-fired hot water tank supplements with 300 gallon solar hot water tank (pre-heated cold water) for domestic hot water. No back-up necessary past nine winters - house maintained at 76 degrees F.

Home is unique architectually in that when you view one side of the house you have no idea what other three sides (that are all different) will look like. Collecting system is drain-down hot water with one metal and a small electric coil at the “T” of the delivery system, turned on when the temp. is below freezing for a short time on arising until panels start functioning (ave. time 1-1.5 hrs.) . No freezing problems ever. Panels running since ‘78. Temp. sensors must be replaced every 2-5 years.

Northfield 113 Coller Cemetary Rd

Contact Name: Don & Judy Campbell Phone #: 413-498-0027

Directions: Take Rt 63 north into Northfield. Before entering the main part of town, a Mobil gas station is on the left. At the end of the gas station there is a street on the right called Maple St. Turn right at this street. Continue on this street (the name changes to Gulf Rd although not marked) for 3.6 miles. It goes up the mountain and just after you begin to go down-hill there’s a left turn onto Orange Rd. There is also a sign for “Jack’s Towing and Inspection Station” here. Continue on Orange Rd for 1.5 miles until you come to the first road on the left - Coller Cemetery Rd. There are 2 mail boxes here. Turn left & go for 6/10 mile. Just after a sharp “S” curve is our house (the only one on the right).
Special Considerations:
Park on the parking ledge just before the house & take the stone steps down to the house level. Walk around the house to the right and enter by the rear screened porch.

Home Information: Builder: Phil Watson
Architect: Richard Morse
Construction Cost: $215,000 - comparable to conventional construction although design may have added to the cost.
Size:1,700 sq.ft.
Year Built: 2000
Building Style:Contemporary rustic octagonal
Location: Rural
Partially sun-built! Solar Power used for construction.

Solar Features: All of our electricity (120V) is solar.
Panel system about $18,000. 4 Tri-lam panels, 12 :Trojan batteries,. We are probably going to add 4-6 more panels to get up to 1KW of power. Built-in meter and inverter. Bought own 500 gallon LP tank for savings.Gas fridge, stove, and hot water. Exhaust only air exchange-wood stove, gas backup heat. The original house (also custom hexagon) only had the panels on the barn. This house burned in January ‘99. The new house (more than 90%) was built using electricity generated from these panels & stored in batteries placed in the barn.

Utility Info: Heat is wood w/gas back-up. Gas only utility bill about 300-400 gal/yr. Batteries retail at near $180 ea., we have 12 new. Propane Fuel generator.

Octagonal house. Passive solar use of windows which also create a feeling of being outside while sitting inside. All that light reduces lighting need. Alot of work needed inside and out. Posts and beams and most of the wood floor came from trees on the property.

Northfield 16 Warwick Road

Contact Name: Betty & Walton Congdon Phone #: 413-498-2729 email: walt_congdon@nmhschool.org

Directions: Northfield Main Street is Routes 10 & 62. Follow 63 south from Hinsdale, NH or north from Amherst, MA; Route 10 south from Keene or east from IS-91 at Bernardston. In the center of Northfield at the yellow blinker, turn east on Warwick Road to number 16, the 3rd house on the left, gray vinyl below and brown shingle above, barn at the end of a short paved drive.

Home Information: Builder: Archibald M Solandt Renovation Cost: $43,000 over 7 years plus $12K PV system.
Size: 1500-1700 sq. ft. Kitchen, DR, LR foyer, 2 porches, 2 bath, 3 BR, sewing room (office), barn.
Year Built: 1913
Year Renovated: 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994
Building Style: Post Victorian
Location: Rural
Utility Info: Oil heat & oil hot water. 8 year average 705 gal/year. Electric 3192 kWh/year (266 kWh/month) before PV and SunFrost refrigerator; now 127 kWh/year, only during midwinter. Gas 38 gal/year for stove & dryer. Water 2670 cu.ft./year (223 cu.ft./month @ $140/1000 cu.ft.

Solar Features: The renewable energy electric system is unusual, being neither entirely off-grid nor a grid-intertie (no sell-back), but is stand-alone. Six tri-lam PV panels (18 individual panels) at a nominal 550 watts are mounted on a two-axis tracker, and six Solec PV panels at 480 watts are fix-mounted, all back of the house 225 feet from the battery bank in the cellar. The 16 Trojan L-16HC batteries store 1580 amp-hour at 25VDC (ca. 40kwh) and supply a 4KW Trace sine wave inverter to produce 120 VAC. Each of the ten house circuits can be switched individually to either WMECO or the PV/inverter system. This home, though near the center of town, is in a very open setting. Electricity is either grid or PV choice for all ten house circuits. All compact fluorescent lighting. New oil furnace low pressure steam heat and tankless hot water. new extra-strength 5” cement cellar floor with interior perimeter drainage to gravity sump. LP gas stove and clothes drier. Front and back porches enclosed for winter passive solar heat. All walls and attic floor blown cellulose insulation. All windows double glazed low-E vinyl replacements. First floor clapboards vinyl sided with skin under-insulation.

Northfield 367 Four Mile Road

Contact Name: Bob & Kimberly English Phone #: 413-834-2076 email: daystar@direcpc.com

Directions: From intersection of Rt 2 and Rt 63 in Millers Falls, head North on Rt 63 towards Northfield. Go 3 miles and take right on Four Mile Brook Rd. Go 2 miles down town maintained gravel road. Driveway is on right w/Solar Home Tour sign.

Home Information: Architect: Self Builder: Self
Cost comparison: comparable Size: 1200 sq.ft. - 2 bedroom Building Style: Ranch
Year Built: 1982 Location: Rural
Utility Info: No utility connections. Solar/wood heat. Photovoltaic electricity. Please visit our website for a cyber tour and some interesting environmental
information. http://fourmileisland.com

Solar Features: Passive solar & wood heat. Solar/wood hot water, photovoltaic electricity (not connected to the grid), solar greenhouse, non-energy using passive icebox for refrigeration, root cellar.

Orange 165 Chestnut Hill Rd.

Contact Name: Deb Habib & Ricky Baruc Phone #: 978 544-7564

Directions: From Rt 2, take exit 14 (Holtshire Rd, Lake Mattawa). Go south on Holtshire Rd appx 1 mile to Lake Mattawa. Go right on Chestnut Hill Rd. Follow 3/4 mile to top of hill. Left at “T”, go 1/3 mile to fork, bear right. Go 8/10 mile to “Seeds of Solidarity”.
From Rt 202. Take Wendell Rd to end (veers to right). Take first left onto Crowl Rd , becomes Chestnut HIll Rd within 3/4 mile. The farm is on the right side of the road. When you see the farm sign by the road turn right. House is 700’ down driveway.

Home Information: Architect - Deborah Habib Builder - Ricky Baruc (Chico-Jackson Builders)
Size: 20’ x 44’ (2 story) Year Built - 1997 - present Location - Rural
Utility Info - all off grid, super-insulated, passive heating & cooling w/frost-protected slab.

Solar Features: House: #8 - 120 watt Astro Power Panels, 4024 watt inverter, 20 batteries, AC & DC wiring, SunFrost Refrigerator, Biodiesel powered generator - backup power, within a year will be installing hydrowheel powered by spring to supplement solar. Studio: #2 - 75 watt Siemans, #3 Carrizzo Panels, 4 batteries, 800 watt inverter. 1980 Mercedes & 1997 Ford F350 that run on 100% Biodiesel produced in Ashfield, MA from used fryer oil. House is attached to 26’ x 44’ greenhouse for food production & heat, and will house The Constructed Wetland to recycle gray-water.

Eastern Mass.

Bellingham 20 Cedar Hill Road

Contact Name: Brian Matheny Phone #: (508) 966-3943 email: bmatheny@mediaone.net

Pictures on Brian's website: http://people.ne.mediaone.net/bmatheny/solar.htm

Directions: From Exit 18on I-495 (either direction), take left at the end of the off-ramp. Go straight thru a series of close-spaced traffic lights. Right very soon on Farm St. Take the first right on Cedar Hill. House is about the 7th on the right, #20 is on the mailbox on the house.

Home Information: Cost comparison: estimate that insulation retrofit paid for itself in about 3 years.
Size: 1850 sq. ft. (1600 sq. ft. heated/cooled)
Building Style: Raised Ranch
Year Built: 1958
Location: Suburban Tract Development
Utility Info: Oil furnace was $345/yr at .80/gal w/set-back, T-stat (would have been $490 at last year’s prices). Heat pump was $320 last year w/no set-back thermostat.

Solar Features: 900 watt rated PV array on roof. Best exposure is East facing which has worked better than expected. Supplies non-heating household load. Insulation and natural shading has reduced the cooling load to only the very warmest days.

High efficiency Energy Star air-source heat pump has kept the house more comfortable than the oil burner (better air circulation), cheaper and cleaner inside and out! More efficient than a gas furnace even considering power plant losses. My 2 battery-electric vehicles will also be on display. Daily driver is a 100 mile per charge S-10 pickup. (Have not owned or borrowed a gas vehicle for 2 years - 13,000 miles/yr.) Fun EV is Toyota MR2 sports car (2nd place at this year’s National Electric Drag Race Association event in MD). See www.powerofdc.com . EV has cost appx. $.03/mile.

Belmont 27 Skahan Road

Contact Name: Ken Siskind Phone #: 617-489-5633 email: sagefarm@aol.com

Directions:
Parking is readily available on the street. Please don't park in the driveway.

Directions: From Storrow Drive in Boston

Storrow Drive becomes Soldiers Field Rd. Go over Eliot bridge. Bear right over the bridge.
Continue on to Fresh Pond Parkway. Turn Left onto Mt. Auburn Street to Watertown.
Follow Mt. Auburn Street past Star Market on right. Bear right onto Belmont Ave. Continue down Belmont Ave until you reach Grove Street traffic light. Make a right onto Grove Street. Turn left on Fairview. Turn right on Dalton Rd. Turn Left onto Harvard Rd. Turn right onto Skahan. 27 is halfway down on the right.

From Route 2. - Take Route 2 past Alewife. Continue on to Fresh Pond Parkway. At the first rotary (just past Circle Furniture on the right) make a right onto Concord Ave. Take Concord Ave until you reach a traffic light with Blanchard Rd on the left, and Brighton Ave on the right. You should see Temple Beth El across the street. Make a left onto Blanchard Rd (in front of the Temple). At the next intersection, turn left onto Grove Street. Follow Grove Street past the playground on your right until you reach Fairview, then follow the directions above.

Home Information: Building Style: 2-Family Year Built: 1920’s Location: Suburban
Utility Info: System has only been running a few weeks. Last year I filled my oil tank on: 5/19/00, 6/30/00 and 9/19/00 This year it was filled on 5/4/01 and 7/4/01. Since my tank was installed in August, I won't know until my tank is filled again what the savings is. It should be significant since the oil burner has been shut off since the solar system was installed.

Solar Features: Large Fireball System with 80 Gallon State Industries Tank.
4 ACR 20” x 12’ Solar International Panels, gross area = 80 sq ft.
Single glazed flat plate.
Heat Exchanger - State Industries. 20 sq ft.

The Solar Hot water heater offsets the existing Oil Fired Tankless system. The solar panels are visible from the driveway. The basement will be open to see the tank. The attic will be open for those who
want to see the piping.

Bolton 133 Wilder Road

Contact Name: Bob Zak Phone #: 978-779-6597 email: rzak@mediaone.com

Directions:
495 to 117W thru Bolton Center, go 1 mile, veer left on Wilder, 3/4 mile on right - red colonial.

Parking is limited. Tour from noon to 4 p.m. and is restricted to outside of house to look at Sunslates on the roof only.

Home Information:
Size: appx. 3000 sq.ft.
Building Style: Saltbox
Year Built: 1995
Location: Suburban/rural

Solar Features:5.8 kilowatt photovoltaic system using Sunslate roof integrated solar modules.

Concord 20 Darton Street

Contact Name: David Bearg Phone #: 978-369-5680 email: sagefarm@aol.com

Directions: Located in the southern part of Concord MA, Darton street is the second right off Dover Street. This turn is marked by yellow diagonal signs: SLOW & NARROW ROAD. Dover Street connects at its east end to Plainfield Rd. Plainfield Rd runs between Rte 117 to the south and Powdermill Rd to the north. One end of Powdermill Rd connects to Sudbury Rd, which in turn connects to Rte 2.

Home Information: Architect: Owner’s designs
Builder: various
Cost comparison: unknown
Size: 3,000 sq ft
Building style: Contemporary
Year built: several major additions - ongoing
Location: Suburban
Utilities Information: Less than 5BTU/sf/degree day

Solar Features: Passive Solar Design: Original summer cottage (700 sf) expanded over the years to increase the amount space enclosed and improve the energy efficiency of the structure. The major axis of home is east-west, with most of the glazing facing south & high insulation values in the walls. Three entrances to the house include unheated buffer rooms: Airlock entrance, glassed in porch & equipment room next to garage. Attached Greenhouse: active rock storage, automatic greywater irrigation system, greenhouse within greenhouse for starting seedlings. Workshop: Fan powered filtration & heat transfer from adjacent sun room. Freestanding Cottage: 12’x18’ single room structure with south facing glazing & high insulation values in walls. House represents a quarter of a century of attempts by the owner, a consultant in Indoor Environmental Quality, to reduce the negative environmental impact of providing a quality and comfortable domicile.

Needham 44 Norfolk St

Contact Name: Ross Donald Phone #: 781-444-3148 email: ross@rnn.com

Directions: Parking on the street 44 Norfolk Street is between Warren Street and Webster Street in
Needham, MA. There are three Needham exits off of Rt 95 (Rt 128) All roads to Needham from the exits cross Webster Street. The Needham/Newton Exit 19 is Highland Avenue, which crosses Webster Street at the corner with Temple Beth Shalom and the fire station. Take a left onto Webster Street, go about 1.2 miles, and cross Dedham Avenue. Needham Exit 18 is Great Plain Avenue which crosses Webster at a set of stop lights (before entering Needham Center) Take a left onto Webster and cross Dedham Ave. Needham/Dedham Exit is Dedham Avenue/Rt 135. At the stop lights before the Texaco Station, take a left onto Webster. Once on Webster Street and after crossing or leaving Dedham Avenue, follow Webster Street under the Bridge and take the first right onto Norfolk Street. 44 Norfolk is the 7th house on the left.

Home Information: Architect: Ross M. Donald (of RE-modeling)
Builder: Ross M. Donald
Renovation costs are comparable to conventional construction
Size: 2,400 SF
Building Style: Bungalow
Year Built: 1907
Location: Suburban Utility Information:$40/month electric, $1,200/ry oil heat and hot water

Solar Features: 20 watt solar electric attic cooling and whole house fan, 30 SF solar storm window, sunspace, built-in, wall mounted solar oven, solar DHW going in, backyard solar sculptures (parabolic dish type), solar ovens, solar skillets, solar canning systems, air-heating solar collectors and different types of solar hot water heating collectors (flat plate, trough concentrators, batch heaters).

New Bedford 1 East Quarry Street

Contact Name: Gerald Lemay Phone #: 508-994-9333 email: glemay@umassd.edu

Directions: Off Rte. 6 in North Dartmouth on East Quarry St. (Between Sullivan’s auction house and anchor animal hospital). Because of limited access to this site and restricted parking, the system is only open for viewing from 11am to 3pm.

Home Information: Builder: Partition & Battery box from Yankee Builders(508-636-8660), Renewable energy electronics from Sunnyside Solar (802-257-1482), 100-amp service installation from ABCO Electric (508-999-3008), Suspension enhancement from Couet Springs (508-992-5768), Recycled wood & PV frame construction from Ray Santos, overall support and encouragement from Don Cardoza(508-996-6054)
Style: Ford Econoline van
Year Built: 2000
Location: Rural

Solar Features: Utility-interconnected power generation station housed in a Ford Econoline van, featuring a 100amp dedicated lockable AC disconnect, 240watts of PV, SW2512 TRACE inverter, charge controller and 17KWH of deep-cycle, rechargeable batteries. The system is intended for power generation and to be part of the NSTAR utility grid. The details of selling electricity to the utility will be shared. Please call 808-994-9333 for further information.

Newton 159 Bellevue Street

Contact Name: Robin & Robert Baratz Phone #: 617-332-3063 email: imcsi@rcn.com

Directions: Bellvue St. is located approx. 1/2 mile South of Newton Corner (exit 17, Mass Pike), off Center St.

Home Information: Builder: Self-renovations Size: 24x35 plus additions Building Style: Colonial
Year Built: 1940-41 Location: Suburb

Solar Features: was owner installed in 1978. Monitored daily for 3 years 1978-81. Data available.

South Natick Broadmoor Nature Center 280 Eliot Street

Contact Name: Elissa M. Landre Phone #: 508-655-2296 ext. 7306

Directions: Call for directions. Tour goers will receive a prerecorded tour of the building by tape. There is no fee for touring the nature center building. There is however an admission fee of $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children and senior citizens for the greater wildlife sanctuary. Nature Center employees request that you don't visit the wildlife sanctuary without paying the admission fee first.

Home Information: Architect: Gerry Ives, Boston, MA
Building Style: Converted and renovated horse barn originally constructed in 1911.

Solar Features: Passive solar design, daylighting, super-insulated, Composting toilets and natural ventilation. Passive solar heating through a sun space on the south side of the building. Heat is stored in rock beneath the basement floor and in water-filled tubes that are in a glazed compartment at the back of the sunspace. Passive solar heating provides two-thirds of the winter heating needs. On average one and one-half cords of wood are burned each year in the nature center harvested sustainably from the sanctuary forest during property maintenance. The nature center is super-insulated with R28 walls, R40 ceilings, R6 beneath floor slab and a draft proof vapor barrier lines the building. The building also features energy efficient glazing throughout. The Broadmoor Nature Center, run by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, demonstrates that building for the future pays off in the here and now. Solar heating, super-insulation, daylighting and natural ventilation all work together to reduce energy consumption in the building by 80 percent, compared to a conventional building of the same size. The Broadmoor Nature Center points the way to the future where we can live and work in buildings that allow us to use less energy, less water, produce less waste and live as a participant, rather that an intruder in the surrounding natural environment.

South Natick Natick Community Organic Farm 117 Eliot St. (Route 16)

Contact Name: Linda Simkins Phone #: 508-655-2204

Directions: From Boston take 128, exit Route 16 West. Stay on Rte.16 west through Wellesley into Natick. The farm is on right hand side, number 117. Visitors are welcome to come for self-guided tour. Farm is open to the public. Staff may or may not be present.

Home Information: The farm was originally a family farm in the early 1800 and 1900s and then was purchased by the town of Natick in 1978 to be used as an educational farm. Recent construction includes a market stand and an educational classroom. Organic working farm focusing on education.
2 greenhouses currently in use, a maple sugar shack. 22 acres of pasture and farm land that is organically farmed with animals and vegetables, herbs, flowers, etc.

Solar Features: 2 greenhouses--1 passive solar and 1 active solar greenhouse with photovoltaic panels. Visitors are welcome to come for self-guided tour. Farm is open to the public. Staff may or may not be present. Informational materials will be available.

Wellesley 42 Manor Avenue

Contact Name: Moneer Azzam phone: 781-431-7777 email: solarone@mediaone.net

Directions: Mass Pike going West Exit for 128 & Rt 30. Head towards Rt 30 at top of exit ramp go right. At light turn left onto Rt 30. Take 30 2 1/2 miles to next full stop light. Weston HS on left turn left onto Wellesley Ave. Go 2 1/2 mile turn right onto Manor Ave. 3 blocks to corner of Manor & Argyle. House faces onto Argyle. Blue Cape Cod Style w/ black shutters.

Home Information: Builder: Gutierrez Company
Size: 98,000 sq ft
Year Built: 1979- present
Location: Suburban

Solar Features:1.5 kw grid connected PV array 100 watt PV solar shade, attic fans and solar power companions Qt9 (2) 4 x 8 Solar thermal panels to heat domestic hot water.

Westwood 185 Fisher St.

Contact Name: Peter & Pam Kane phone: 781-326-3436

Directions: Rt 128 to exit 16B onto Rt 109 west. Go about 2 1/2 Miles thru Westwood center. Take a left onto Nahatan St. Take 3rd right onto French St and 3rd left onto Fisher. House is at dead end of dirt road.
Home Information: Architect: Acorn Structures
Builder: Owner
Construction cost compared to conventional home: 15% higher
Size: 2,100 sq. ft.
Year Built:1991
Building style: Reverse Saltbox
Location: Suburban

Solar Features: Passive solar design: true south orientation, most windows on south side, garage on N.W. corner, dark tile floor for thermal mass, tight construction, well insulated, air to air heat exchanger. Active solar hot water system with 12X16’ collector and 800 gallon storage tank, Evergreen Solar AC module photovoltaic panels which are grid-connected. High efficiency furnace. Architectually interesting contemporary design. Bright open floor plan with exposed beams and cathedral ceilings. Warm in the winter, cool in the summer. Incorporates passive solar, active solar and photovoltaics. Featured in Boston Edison’s energy crafted home ads. Uses about 1/2 the energy of conventional house of the same size.

No air-conditioning needed.
Approx. $700 a year spent on propane for heat, hot water, clothes dryer, cooking
$50 a month electricity or less
$300 water bill annually

Cape Cod

Hatchville Cape Cohousing

Contact Name: Joe Hackler Phone #: 508-564-4325 email: jhackler@whrc.org

Directions: Please call for directions

Home Information: Property Name: Alchemy Farms Cohousing Community Architect: Various Construction or renovation cost: Individual custom homes from 90 to 170 thousand dollars Compared to conventional construction: 15 to 25 percent lower than standard building cost
Size Ranges: Approx. 1200 to 2500 sq. ft.
Year Built: Ongoing Building Style: Custom conventional and contemporary capes and ranches
Location: Rural

Alchemy Farm is a cohousing community located on Cape Cod in Hatchville, MA. The cohousing group is incorporated as Cape Cohousing. Its goal is to create and nurture a cohousing community, where individuals live in integrity and harmony with each other and with nature, using sustainable agriculture and energy-efficient methods to produce and provide food, energy and shelter. Their corporate bylaws contain design guidelines to encourage renewable energy, energy-efficiency, sustainable building practices and water conservation. The cohousing group has also agreed that all houses will use waterless toilets. Several of the group's members will be building fully integrated factory built solar homes through a US DOE program called PV: BONUS which is designed to encourage building opportunities. for PV. Alchemy Farms is located on the prior site of the New Alchemy Institute which was an ecological research farm and contains agricultural fields, gardens, fruit and nut tree crops, berry bushes, herbs and forest. The community will contain twelve individual homes clustered into two groups, a commonhouse containing classrooms, auditorium, library, offices, garages, guest apartment, storage space and a farm stand. Some homes are designed as energy efficient integrated systems utilizing Energy Crafted Home and Energy Star Home standards. The homes have 2,000 watt PV arrays providing electricity, passive solar designed living spaces energy-efficient lighting and appliances, super-tight and well insulated construction. Some homes will have solar hot water and roof mounted wind turbines.

Plymouth 60 Firehouse Road

Contact Name: Steve & Janice Pitney Phone #: 508-759-6706

Directions: From North, take exit 3 from Rt. 3, bear right to end, left on Long Pond Road for 1 mile., take 1st right on Halfway Pond Rd., take 2nd left onto Bourne Rd., 2 3/4 mile. past Fire Station. 1st right immediately after Fire Station. is Firehouse Rd. # 60 last home on left after fence. From South, East, West, Bourne Rotary, right Head of Bay Rd., to Plymouth Lane, right go 3 mile. to Yellow Fire Station sign bear left onto Firehouse Rd. #60 is last house on left.
Open anytime by appointment. Call ahead to 800-DCSOLAR.

Home Information: Property Name: DC SOLAR Farm Size: 30 x 25 (3 1/2 floors) Year Built: 1972 Year Renovated: 1987 to present Building Style: Gambrel Location: Rural

Solar Features: Wind Power, Solar Power, Cogeneration Power and Heat, Solar heat and domestic hot water, radiant in-floor heating, Composting toilets, solar heat (office), water well cooling (office) with irrigation water, passive solar heat (office), solar powered ventilation (office). Efficient appliances. Utilities: During the aftermath of Hurricane Bob in summer 1992, we connected a water-cooled generator to our house for electricity and our water tank (via HA) for DHW. We replaced a $140/month electric bill with less than $60 fuel costs (monthly). Later we added other generators (PV + Wind)

The home is an example of how energy efficiency and autonomy can be incorporated into an existing home. I like to use the term "transitional technologies", to describe how people can painlessly adjust to more independent sustainable living. The home has many transitional technologies, and more are being added all the time.

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