$1,000
25% to 49%
of electricity
75% to 99%
of hot water
75% to 99%
of space heating
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No fossil fuels used
$1,000
25% to 49%
of electricity
75% to 99%
of hot water
75% to 99%
of space heating
Property
- Type:
- Single-Family Residence
- Address:
- 5 Gilbert Drive, Colrain, MA 01340
- Size:
- 1,550 sq ft
- Energy need met:
- 25% to 49% of electricity
- 75% to 99% of hot water
- 75% to 99% of space heating
- Designations:
- Passive house
- Zero net energy
- Event Participation:
- NESEA Green Buildings Open House 2012 Host
- NESEA Green Buildings Open House 2013 Host
Technology
- Type:
- Solar Hot Water
- Installed:
- January 2009
- Size of System:
- 1200 gallons
- Purposes:
- To generate electricity
- To heat hot water
- For space heating
Financial Details
- Annual Savings:
- $1,000
Professionals & Suppliers
- Installers:
- Berkshire PV
- Builders:
- Dole Brothers, Inc.
What You Need to Know
Description:
Solar Thermal heating and hot water. 1200 gallon storage. 30 evacuated tubes and 4 flat panels connected in series as a hybrid system. Electric backup for hot water, electric and wood backup for heat. Designed for snow load efficiency. House also is heated by passive solar. PV array provides about 5 kW to supplement electricity needs.
Other Benefits:
Locally harvested wood flooring trim; Low/no-VOC Sherwin Williams paints and finishes; Windows: Pella Triple pane argon filled windows customized with low E on surface #5 on south windows and low E on surface #2 on E, W and N. Hardi-plank siding; IKO Cambridge 50-year shingle roof; Local Ashfield Stone countertops; COP between 2.5 and 3; ERV ventilation systems; 17kW PV system net metered with four existing homes. Four homes built of an eventual 18-unit cluster development on 14 acres of 112-acre property; Southern orientation for passive-solar homes and maximum solar gain; Small compact houses with 1,350- to 1,650 sq-ft conditioned space; Upper floor is Universal Design/ADA-compliant for young families and aging in place ; Dense-packed blown-in super-insulated and air-sealed shell; R-45 foot-thick walls, R-55 ceiling ; North walls have fewer windows than south-facing walls; Edible forest gardens; Root cellar; Extensive nature trails planned; Preservation of existing habitat and meadows; Community garden & orchards; turkey and chicken tractor; bees; field crops in the planning stages; community bread oven.
Maintenance Requirements:
Annual tuning of heating system
Efficiency or Sustainability Improvements:
Daylighting, Earth sheltered, Energy Star Appliances, Energy Star rated, Local Materials, Masonry stove, Non-Toxic Products, Radiant floor heating, Rain Barrels, Recycled Materials, Sunspace, Super Insulated Walls/ Roof
My Motivation:
Benefit the environment and to not use fossil fuels.
Open House Info:
From the Greenfield rotary go 3.6 miles on Rt. 2 West and look for two green signs saying "To Rt. 112 North Colrain." There is a yellow Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters on the left and Strawberry Fields, an antique store, on the right. Take a right at the second green sign onto the Colrain/Shelburne Road. Go 5.1 miles, at the end descending a very long, steep hill. At the intersection with a white-steepled brick church on your right, go left on Rt. 112 (South Main Road) through the village of Colrain. Go almost a mile and after the firehouse look sharp for a very small sign just around a bend: Foundry Village Road. Go right. Foundry Village Road winds around almost a mile past a cemetery on your left and at a small red barn sheltering a dusty maroon Volvo becomes Adamsville Road, so bear right, staying on Adamsville. (There is a small Adamsville Road sign on the left, but ignore it.) Go 2.6 miles on Adamsville Road and look for the sign on the right for Ed Clark Road. Go PAST Ed Clark Road 1.2 miles and look for the next road on your right: Stetson Brothers Road. At the first dirt road on your right, turn right into Katywil. Upper floor is Universal Design/ADA-compliant for young families and aging in place Builder: George Dole, Dole Bros.; Civil Engineer: Charles Labatt, Guntlow & Associates; Developer: Bill Cole; Energy Consultant: Marc Rosenbaum, Energysmiths; Energy Monitoring: Robb Aldrich, Steven Winter Associates; Robb Aldrich; Solar-Thermal Heating System Design: Donavin Gratz, Northeast Solar; Kitchen Design: Nora Antil, Classic Kitchens
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