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WisconSUN Case Study:
The Bircher Home
- Home design: Birchers and Gryboski Builders
- Home construction: Gryboski Builders, Green Bay, WI
- Solar design expertise: Birchers and Solar Design Associates
- Solar hot water system: Two 4 by 8 ft Heliodyne, Helio-Pak 16 AC panels
- Solar water heating system installation: Jindra Plumbing & Heating
- Photovoltaic system: Two, ASE Americas SunShine 300 AC modules, 0.55 kW total
- Photovoltaic system installation: Stiegler Electric, Green Bay, WI and Wisconsin Public Service Corp.
- Location: De Pere, WI
- Construction completed: December 1999
The Bircher home is an excellent example of the residential home of the 21st century. Not only
is it energy efficient and uses renewable energy systems, but it takes a very practical approach
to solar energy. The solar energy systems did not cost a fortune (about $9,000), cover the entire
roof, or meet 100% of Bircher family's energy needs - however they do dramatically improve the
home's overall energy efficiency.
The Bircher Home follows Maharishi Sthapatya VedaŽ design principles and uses natural, non-toxic materials. Natural materials include a cement/wood fiber siding and bamboo hardwood flooring. Energy efficiency is a key design feature of the Bircher Home. The ceiling is insulated to R-44 and walls to R-20, and the house is constructed very tightly to minimize infiltration. Efficient appliances include ENERGY STARŽ dish and clothes washers, low-flow showerheads, a whole-house fan, an 11.2 SEER air conditioner, and a 93% efficient forced air furnace. A masonry fireplace provides additional heat.
The Bircher home has two small 275 W grid-connected PV panels. The panels are mounted on top of the garage, over standard shingles. On the back of each panel is a small DC/AC inverter. This small PV system supplies about 10% of the household electricity needs.
The solar hot water system has two collectors that heat a propylene glycol solution. A small pump circulates the propylene glycol through a double walled heat exchanger attached to an 80-gallon hot water tank. Another pump circulates water from the storage tank through the heat exchanger. The solar panels lie in the plane of the roofline, looking more like skylights than solar panels. The solar hot water system is meets about 60% of the household water heating needs.
For more information about the Bircher home contact:
Chip Bircher
3236 Alcor Trail
DePere, WI 54115
Phone 920.337.0264
Photo credits
Chip Bircher
copyright © 2000 WisconSUN
