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WisconSUN Case Study:
The Lagerman-Mann Home
- Construction completed: December 2000
- Photovoltaic system: twelve 120 watt Astropower single crystalline panels and one Trace ST 1500 inverter
- Other Solar Systems: solar hot water, solar air systems, and passive solar
- Size of PV system: 1.4 KW
- Photovoltaic System Installation: David Lagerman and Patrick Kiernan
- Location: High Wind Association, Plymouth, Wisconsin
The Lagerman-Mann home exhibits the sustainable ethics and solar passion of its owners. Not only is the home very energy efficient, it also has four solar systems, including a photovoltaic (PV) system co-funded by WisconSUN. The solar systems include active and passive solar space heating, a hot water system and the 1.4 KW PV system. The PV system, installed most recently, is building integrated—replacing a portion of the home's roof.
The home is located at the High Wind Association, a community that practices and educates groups on sustainable living. All of the association's homes are energy efficient and several include solar energy systems. During the summer the Association holds regular tours of its homes.
The PV system is connected to the local electric utility (Plymouth Utilities). When the PV system produces more electricity than is required by the home, the Lagerman-Mann's electric meter is spun backwards, and "stored" on the utility grid. When the home requires more electricity than the PV is able to provide, the stored PV power is taken off the utility grid. This saves the Lagerman-Mann family the cost and the maintenance requirements of batteries. The ability to use the utility as a battery, called net metering, is allowed across most of Wisconsin.
For more information about the Lagerman-Mann home and the High Wind Association contact David Lagerman, phone 920.528.7343 or e-mail davdlou@danet.net.
Photo credits
Niels Wolter, WisconSUN
copyright © 2001 WisconSUN
