The 2012 Hampton Roads Solar Tour

2012 Solar Home Tour - Peninsula, 7 October 2012

Intro and map –
Note: An address for each location will be provided after registration.
There is no Bus tour this year.
 

Site 1P - Virginia Living Museum - This site is available for tour from 10:00 to 10:45 AM only.

Features: The Living Green House has PV system, solar water heater, radiant heating, interactive fountain, day-lighting, passive solar architectural design elements.

Admission is waived for this hour only. The new Living Green House demonstrates many renewable technologies and is a great place to start your tour. 3-200 watt solar PV panels connect to the grid. An evacuated tube type solar water heater connects to a radiant floor heating system embedded in the slab concrete floor; portions are visible for the guests to view. Over 25 other green building techniques/products are also on display in this demonstration house.  http://www.thevlm.org/living-green.aspx.

The tour is scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM.  Participants need to arrive on time at the museum admission area.  The group will not be charged for the tour which should last 45-60 minutes.

2P. Elber House - Features: Solar hot water, Solar PV.

 
3P. Dolan House - Features: Solar PV
The home has an 8100 watt photovoltaic system consisting of 30 SunTech 270W panels with a pair of Solectria Inverters that produce an average of 33.4kWh of electricity per day. It meets over 115% of the homes electrical needs via net metering on an annual basis.   The system was brought online Feb 2010.  The home is in an historic district which limits certain energy efficiency improvements.  This tour is outside only.

4P. Cuker /Gerbing Home - This home has a PV system consisting of twenty 220 watt PV panels (by Solar Power), installed by Solar Solutions of VA.  The owner designed and built a novel adjustable solar awning for ten of the panels on the south side of the house.  The awning is made of 5 units, each supporting 2 PV panels.  The awning adjusts for changes in seasonal solar angle.  It also provides nice shade for the lower floor windows.  The second bank of ten panels is on an east-facing roof.  The 4.3KW system supplies the entire electrical needs of the house for the year. The house also features solar hot water, and an owner designed and installed "heat wall" that warms the back addition from fall through spring.   Investing in PV has motivated other conservation efforts as well: Clothes lines were also installed on the back porch allowing the electric dryer to stop being used, and the family has two Prius automobiles.
NOTE: This home will not be available for the tour after 3PM

5P. Garden Atriums of Poquoson - Features: “Net Zero” home, Passive solar heating, PV system, Rainwater harvesting, Eco-friendly décor, Xeriscaping, Day-lighting.
The house is cluster zoned to maximize land use. It is heated 100% by passive solar heating, and 100% of the electricity needs are met by photovoltaics.  95% of the water needs are met via rainwater harvesting. No off-gassing materials were used; it has zero VOC paints, dye-free carpets, and solid wood cabinets. The CO2 level is kept the same as outdoors via broad-leafed plants, and oxygen levels are much higher than outdoors. Air toxins are eliminated via indoor plants. The site is terraced to maximize water absorption; no irrigation is needed. Day-lighting is maximized for better eye health, and windows are minimized for improved sound insulation and quietness. Recycled granite veneers and wood floors are used throughout.

6P. Sizemore House - Features: Solar PV and hot water, geothermal heat pump

This house has a net-metered 16-panel, 3.68 kw solar photovoltaic system and a two-panel solar hot water system, installed between 2005 and 2010. The PV system generates an average of 11.5 kwh of electricity a day, offsetting about one-third of the home's gross consumption. The two systems together have reduced the home's total electricity consumption by about 60 percent. A geothermal heat pump was installed at the end of 2011. Factoring in federal and state government incentives and the sale of solar renewable energy credits, the estimated payback period for all the systems is seven to 10 years.

7P. Franck Home - Features: PV System, Ground-sourced heat pump, Energy efficiency. 
This home has three solar PV arrays containing a total of 36 Shuco 210 V MAU-1 panels.  This 7.5 kw system generates on average about 26 kwh per day.  It also has a closed loop ground source heat pump.  Energy efficiency features include: Triple layer insulation system in the roof and exterior walls, conditioned crawl space, low-e windows, and tankless water heater.  It was completed May 2010.  See more at www.shellbanksolar.com

8P. Compass Rose - Features: Solar PV, Solar Hot water, ICF construction, water conservation, daylighting.
Go to www.nettrekinc.com/taxfreehome/ to see the many features of this home.  It contains a 4 kW Solar PV, Solar hot water panels capable of 350,000 btu, Radiant floor heating using the solar heated water, and ICF block construction with Icynene spray-in foam.  Landscaping (using drought tolerant plants) slows water run off and rain barrels are in place.  Solar tubes, natural lighting, and CFL are used in all rooms.  The high efficiency of house results in an annual electric bill of ZERO.  The home was designed and built by the owners.

11P Evans home - Features: Passive solar, Solar hot water, solar PV.

This home utilizes passive solar design, with deep overhangs and window placement to take advantage of the sun. It was  constructed using SIPS panels and  metal roofs.  Windows are energy efficient.  The house has a solar thermal system as well as a photovoltaic system.  Provisions have been made for a green roof in the future.

The 2012 Hampton Roads Solar Tour is sponsored by: