New Jersey

Other Building Information: We do not use solar panels for heating or cooling as we have another method known as "geothermal" control in which we use the ground water energy system. Active solar.

General Information: Our buildings make up an office and preserve management facility for The Nature Conservancy's network of nature preserves in the Cape May and Cumberland County region. The photovoltaic unit is located on the roof of our land steward building, which is located behind our main office and nature center. These solar panels supply electricity to our two main buildings, which total 4,378 square feet.

Flemington

Designer: Store layout: Alice Celebre

Square Feet: 6,000

Builder: Construction overseen by: Ralf Celebre

Year Built: 2003

Fuel Type: Natural gas

Building Features:

Daylighting
Heat recovery ventilation
Photovoltaics
Instantaneous hot water

Other Building Information: In addition to daylighting we have included skylights and solar tubes as well as additional southeast exposure glass. Photovoltaics will be installed soon. Interior insulated walls. Additional insulation (double the commercial requirement). Recycled contect ceramic floor tiles. Bathroom dividers made from recycled milk bottles high efficiency florescent lighting. Energy star refrigerator, heat recovery ventilation system installed in hood over stoves.

General Information: Basil Bandwagon is a natural products retail store specializing in organic produce, herbs, vitamins, health foods and food for special diet requirements. An extensive line of earth and people friendly cleaning products are also available at the market. Additionally, we provide helpful information to people who want to build solar homes and reduce their personal impact on the environment.

Hamilton

Building Style: CA Bungalow

Year Built: 1929

Fuel Type: Electric

Building Features:

Photovoltaics

General Information: My 1929 1 1/2 story balloon wall wood frame house is a north-facing california bungalow in slate blue shingles with white trim and double glazing. There is no roof overhang facing north. A large roof overhang faces south. There is a large roof exhaust fan and vented peak ridge. The garage also has a passive vented peak ridge. I use room air conditioners, electric fans and shade trees. I converted my lawn to planted beds for low maintenance, shade, privacy, noise reduction, wildlife habitat and water conservation. I planted 2 large deciduous shade trees on the west side of my house and driveway. My blue spruce was sited as a winter wind break and street screen. A raised bed of broad leaf evergreens screen the driveway. Windchimes and weathervanes detect air flow. Directly in front of my home is a shallow street runoff retention basin which helps to water the plantings located there. My driveway is gravel to foster precipitation percolation. I have an all electric house with zone heating and added insulation. So PV is supplemental. I have emergency battery back up. My PVsystem was installed June '02.

Lambertville

Square Feet: 2000

Building Style: Ranch

Year Built: 1979

Fuel Type: Natural gas, electric

Fuel Amount: 750 gal/yr

Electricity Amount: 3,000 kWh/yr

Window Brand: Andersen

Building Features:

Solar domestic hot water
Photovoltaics

Other Building Information: Solar hot water system and AstroPower PV system (4.0 kWh). Insulating curtains.

General Information: Astropower PV System installed under NJ Clean Energy program.

Princeton

Other Building Information: Energy Photovoltaics is New Jersey’s only solar panel manufacturer. They have a 1.2 kW array and a smaller one. (the township is giving them trouble about hooking them up but expect that will be resolved)

Ringoes

Designer: Alice Celebre

Construction Cost: $400,000

Square Feet: 3100 +300 sunspace

Builder: Ralph & Alice Celebre

Building Style: French Country Cape

Year Built: 2001

Fuel Type: Oil, wood

Fuel Amount: High efficiency boiler: $500.00

Electricity Amount: About $400.00. Our primary fuel source: Sun!

Window Brand: Low-e Andersen on north, east, and west windows. Non low-e Pellas on southern exposure

Insulation Quantity: R-19 in walls, R-42 in Attic, R-11 extruded polystyrene around foundation & basement floor.

Building Features:

Solar domestic hot water
Daylighting
Sunspace
Masonry stove
Photovoltaics
Passive solar
Radiant floor heating
Energy Star rated

Other Building Information: Green materials used include: Stone and succo siding. Thermal mass concrete walls. Attic Fan 2 ft. overhangs on the southern exposure for summer shading. Garage and portico on western exposure to diminish northwest winds in winter & afternoon solar overheating in summer. All of our new appliances are Energy Star rated. Fluorescent lighting.

General Information: Our home is a French Country design completed in 2001 and demonstrates that solar can be adapted to any style home. It is situated on an organic farm, requiring well water to be pumped to irrigate crops.

Sweetwater

Designer: Garden Way Solar Rooms and owners

Construction Cost: 13,000 / $54 per sq.ft.

Square Feet: 1800 (house)

Builder: Garden Way

Building Style: Sprawling ranch home with 24' solar room attached

Year Built: 1962, sunspace 1984

Fuel Type: Oil

Window Brand: Andersen

Building Features:

Sunspace
Daylighting
Passive solar

Other Building Information: Cost equal to conventional building. Solar sunspace has an automatic/temperature controlled window, a fan to circulate heat to the rest of the house, screens for the glass to reduce heat in summer, a masonry wall to absorb heat for nigh time use, a 8" concrete floor and dark tiles to absorb heat. Solar tubes for light from the roof--$250 each $75 to install--let light into rooms without windows. No electric lighting needed during daytime.

General Information: The first year that the sunspace was installed and working our fuel cost (oil) fell by almost half. During the summer months electrical bills were stable and slightly lower using central air conditioning.

Go back to the main listings page.