Passive Solar, Bristol

System

Sun: Passive Solar Home Construction

Biomass: Pellet Stove (secondary heating only in the coldest months)

Efficiency: R2000 home (R40 walls, R50 ceiling) LED lighting, all energy star appliances

Cost: $140, 000 to build home (no more than regular home this size) O&M: had to add blinds to windows, as it got too warm at times.

Date of Installation: started July 2008, finished Nov 2008

Type/kind: Residential (family of 4 + 2 dogs)

Installer: Brent Desroches

Supplier: Select Homes, Design from BC

Experience: Great experience with contractors and construction

Results: Very comfortable, highest power bill $270, average $120-140.

Description of Case Study:

This new, passive solar home is built with a South-Southwest orientation, which is best for collecting heat and light from the sun. This home has large, efficient windows (double pane, low e) gathering heat all day, which is trapped by this highly efficient house (lots of insulation and tight building envelope). This makes the home very comfortable, with it being hot inside on days of -30 or more. On cold days with no sun, a wood pellet stove provides backup heating.

The home has an R2000 level of efficiency, is 1600 sq feet, and costs no more than a regular home given its size and efficiency. The passive solar aspect then helps to meet up to 50% of the heating needs of the home at no extra cost. The owners also helped keep costs reasonable by helping with construction of the home, clean up, etc. Locally sourced and made materials were also incorporated whenever possible, such as the use of local cedar for the ceilings and flooring.