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WisconSUN Case Study:
The Davenport Home
- Design and Construction: Gimme Shelter
- Location: Central WI
- Size of solar collectors: 320 square feet; Capacity of PV system: 3 kW
- Solar technologies: solar thermal space and hot water heating, passive solar and photovoltaic systems
- Additional cost of the active solar space heating system: $4,000 (compared to a standard radiant floor heating system)
The 3,300 ft2 Davenport home combines solar energy systems with energy efficient design and appliances to make it one of the most energy efficient homes in Wisconsin. The home includes active solar thermal, passive solar and photovoltaic (PV) systems, as well as a masonry wood-burning stove. The home is highly energy efficient with R-60 ceiling and R-28 walls and has a very tight construction. The solar energy systems meet much of the space heating, hot water and electricity needs of the home.
The space heating system uses ten solar collectors to heat an anti-freeze solution. The hot liquid is then routed through 200 tons of sand and concrete (i.e., thermal mass) that lie beneath the home. During a sunny winter day the temperature of the thermal mass rises. The heat moves by conduction through the thermal mass and by late afternoon and evening enters the home. During the daylight hours of a sunny day the home's 220 ft2 of south facing windows heat the home. The home's thermal mass helps stabilize temperatures. During cloudy periods the masonry stove is used as a backup heat source. Three solar collectors are used for heating domestic hot water; an electric water heater serves as a backup.
Two-thirds of the home's heating requirements are met by the solar thermal system. The masonry wood stove provides the remaining space heating needs. The PV system meets half of the home's annual electricity needs.
Photo credit
Niels Wolter, WisconSUN
copyright © 2000 WisconSUN
