2012 Solar Home Tour - Middle Peninsula, Saturday, 6 October

1M. Crockett Home  -

A net-zero solar home featuring passive solar design, solar hot water, and a grid-connected photovoltaic system. Architectural features include extensive south-facing windows, carefully sized roof overhangs, integrated thermal mass, passive cooling elements, northern buffer spaces, substantial insulation, and an open floor plan. The solar hot water system was installed 27 years ago when the house was built, with the original hot water tank and three of the original collectors still in service; the fourth collector was replaced in 2011 after 26 years of service. The system provides nearly 100% of the household hot water needs from June through September. A 6.6 kW net-metered Westinghouse Solar photo-voltaic system was added in two phases in November 2010 and July 2011 and is now producing more power on an annualized basis than the household consumes.

 Also, Tim Lingenfelser will display his self-converted electric 1969 VW Beetle with a 96 volt three phase AC motor. It has Thundersky Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries and an auto-stick transmission. It has a range of 30 miles and a charge time of four and a half hours.

Parking available.  Not ADA accessible. 

2M. Teschner Home -

The 3800 square foot house is a passive solar design, with approximately 360 square feet of windows on the south side, positioned 6 degrees off magnetic south for a precise south facing orientation. Overhangs above the windows are calculated to keep the sunlight out during the summer and in during the winter. Clerestory windows allow sunlight to enter the cathedral ceilings of the second story rooms on the north side of the house. Brick floors on the first and second story of the south side of the house serve as the thermal mass, which heats during the winter and cools during the summer. Awning windows near the floor are opened at night. Cool air is drawn across the brick floor by a large whole house fan located in the attic. The floors are constructed of double 2X10's, 12 inches on center. The exterior walls of the house are constructed of 2 X 6's, and the roof of 2X12's, filled with standard insulation. A heat exchanger is used during the winter to bring fresh air into the house without a significant loss of heat. The thermal mass and HVAC system are within the insulated space. The house has a 5 ton geothermal heat pump for additional heating and cooling.  The geothermal system draws water from a single 550 foot well. Water temperature coming from the well is 69 degrees Fahrenheit.  The Virginia Department of Geology suggests that the high ground water temperature is due to the radioactive decay in a granite formation in the earth below the well.  The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (DMME) is mapping a geothermal profile of the state based, in part, on well water temperatures.  The exit temperature of the water coming from the heat pump is 88 degrees when used for cooling. The same differential of entering and exiting water temperatures applies in winter.  A heat recovery system in the heat pump heats the water in the hot water tank when the heat pump is used for cooling. The heat pump is manufactured by Florida Heat Pump (www.fhp-mfg.com). There is a wood stove in the first floor living room whose ceiling is the height of the house, where a return is located that draws hot air back into the air handler during the winter. Tall trees on the West side shade the house during the summer.  There are seven ceiling fans in bedrooms, kitchen, and in a screened-in porch on the north side.

The architectural style is utilitarian, following the principle of form follows function. The detached garage/apartment is the same basic design with shed roofs and clerestory windows, but without passive solar heating.  Passive solar allows for other architectural possibilities particularly if the solar gain is isolated, as in an atrium, rather than distributed across the structure.

 

3M. Hudgins Home - 

For the owner/architects reduce, reuse and recycle was a guiding principle when renovating and adding to a waterfront 1950’s Cape Cod cottage.  Original redwood siding, poplar roof sheathing, old growth pine rafters/joists, and original oak flooring were among parts of this home salvaged and incorporated into the new structure in creative and unexpected ways.  New green innovations include passive cooling; a closed loop geothermal HVAC system; an EPA certified wood burning fireplace; solar hot water system; an Energy Star® cool roof; hybrid closed cell sprayed polyurethane insulation throughout the house; Energy Star® appliances and light fixtures; and WaterSense plumbing fixtures.   Rain barrels and a modular green roof are also part of the home. 

4M. White Home (AKA Casa Agua) - 

We began constructing our green house by installing a “living shoreline” all around the property to protect Woodas Creek, which is an extension of the East River.   An oyster reef, coir logs and marsh vegetation were installed and planted.  Eventually this will create a 10 foot buffer to filter any runoff.

Casa Agua is being built on an old farmhouse site.  We demolished the farmhouse and carefully saved much of the old wood, some items (such as a sink and tub) to be reused in the new home.  All of the old trees and vegetation were saved. As it will be an Earthcraft certified house, it was designed with many green features:
 
     It is designed to be net-zero through passive solar orientation.  The front of the house curves 150 degrees to save 200 year old trees and to angle the ends of the house directly south.
     The ICF construction is of ARXX blocks, with 5 inches of foam and 6 inches of concrete in the center.  The 2nd floor and roof is of 2 x 10 construction, with sprayed polyurethane and cellulose insulation, with walls of R50 and roof of R48.  All wood used was as formaldehyde free as possible.
      The first floor has radiant heated tubes underneath polished concrete floors. With geothermal wells for floor heating and a large fireplace centered on the 1st floor.
The HVAC consists of 8 geothermal wells, 1 for the radiant floors, 1 for domestic hot water and the rest for heating and cooling blown air system.  A solar chimney lengthens the season of no heating or cooling needed.  An ERV system brings in fresh, conditioned air as the house is sealed to air leaks.
      The roof is of Gerard stone coated metal tile, with a ventilated air space between the tiles and the radiant barrier installed over the plywood sheathing.
     The windows are coated and argon filled insulated glass by Marvin.
     The domestic water supply is harvested rain water going into two cisterns and filtering system for the whole house.  Any excess run off goes into three rain gardens to capture, filter and resupply the ground water. 
      A 5 KW photovoltaic system is planned for the south facing side of the garage roof.  Most appliances, fans and lights are energy star rated.
     Many recycled items are used within the house, for example; foundation beams and flooring to construct the floor of the solar chimney, tubs and sinks reused, etc. 
      The house has outdoor living space in the form of terraces and patios using the prevailing breezes, south facing areas and connection to the outdoors is the theme throughout.

5M. Bond Home - Solar PV

We recently built our home and went with options that allowed our solar array to function best.  We installed all high efficiency appliances including a tankless hot water heater.  We included foam insulation, high efficiency windows, lower ceilings, low flow toilets, and automatic shut off lights in closets.  The most environmentally friendly part of our home is the solar panels.  The array consists of 20 photovoltaic panels that are capable of producing 4.7 kilowatts per hour in the best conditions.  Solar Services, in Virginia Beach installed the panels and inverter they were wonderful).  So far our highest power bill was 20.00.  This was in the hottest weather we have experienced this year.  They were installed in April.

6M. Dezern Home - photovoltaic solar system

This home has a 9.4 kilowatt ground mount photovoltaic solar system consisting of forty (40) Sharp 240 volt solar panels installed with forty (40) Enphase micro-inverters connected to the back of the solar panels that are in turn connected to the electrical service panel box via #4 wire and two 50 amp circuit breakers. The installation was completed in 2011 by Royer Technical Services, Inc. The installation includes a communications system that provides reports of past and present power and energy production by the solar system via an internet connection with the manufacturer. Electric bills have been substantially reduced. Specific information will be available to visitors.

7M. Senyk Home - 

Originally designed and constructed as a "solar home" in 1980-1981 using 1970's technology:
active and passive solar heat, 2x6 wall frame construction vs 2x4 conventional construction,
twelve-inch attic and six-inch wall/crawl space fiberglass insulation, air-lock entry, 100%
envelope plastic vapor barrier, thermopane windows with additional third glazing, layered
window drapes for additional window insulation, wide roof overhang for summer shading, woodburning

Hydroharth fireplace back-up to active solar system. System included thirteen Solar
King thermal solar panels, an insulated 2000 gallon tank, and electrical controls and pumps.
1980 design performance: 30 - 50 degree full sun winter day sufficient heat to maintain interior
house temperature 70 degrees for one day. Higher full sun temperatures sufficient for
additional days. Wood fire in Hydroharth supplied/supplemented all needs on colder and
cloudy days. Problems: many leaks from fatigue fractures caused by thermal
expansion/contraction in devices specially designed to absorb this movement. System used for
twenty-two years.

In 2003, thermal solar panels removed, new roof, thirty-six BP 170 watt PV panels (6 kw) and
one 30-tube Thermomax solar collector installed. Two SMA Sunny Boy 2500-watt inverters
installed. Net metering. Air-air heat pump replaced hot water heat. Hydroharth fireplace
retired, available for emergencies. Unable to remove built-in large 2000 gallon storage tank for
something smaller and more appropriate .

2003 Performance: Most years PV provided most or all of electrical needs April thru November,
including summer air-conditioning. Weather/clouds was the critical variable. Heat pump
electrical load exceeds PV capability December thru March. PV could probably support a
ground source heat pump all year. Thermomax collector provides all domestic hot water needs
June thru October; serves as pre-heater to electrical supplemental heater rest of year.
Survived hurricane Isabel without damage; 107 mph winds reported two miles away. 1980
controls still functioning.

Other: Four Seasons greenhouse/porch added 1992. Moves site of produced passive solar
heat to greenhouse from house; problem compensated by ceiling fans. Also produces
excessive summer heat; problem compensated by retractable awning. Insulation over
crawlspace removed/replaced with closed cell polyurethane 2011.

8M. Tolson Home - 7 KW  PV array and 4 KW solar hot water system

9M. Middle Peninsula Landfill and Recycling Facility 
Waste Management Renewal Energy Plant

Only available until 2PM on 6 October

The facility takes landfill gas from decomposition of waste and uses to fuel eight (8) Reciprocating engines to produce electricity

Power Point presentation on use of landfill to natural gas