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Contact: Chris Witzgall
Phone: 919-524-7476
Location : Apex, NC, US
Visit Website

Description:
Active-passive Solar "Hybrid House"

Th is home is designed as a system to give you low utility

bills, reduce carbon emissions, and serve as a comfort-

able home in summer and winter.

PASSIVE FEATURES

2x6 construction, with R-19 insulation very carefully

installed.

Brick fl oor thermal mass. Th is dampens temperature

swings. Th e eff ect is quite amazing. In the summer,

it is nicely cool on the feet, keeping air conditioning

use down. In the winter, it absorbs sunlight during the

daytime, and radiates it at night. Th e temperature is also

better regulated top to bottom, so you always feel more

comfortable . Light roof shingles minimize thermal

loading.

Meticulously sealed, insulated crawlspace. Th is ties the

brick fl oor to the constant earth temperature below, and

is a big part of why the brick fl oor works so well. Th ere

is a dehumidifi er installed if needed, but I don‚t think it

has ever run!

South facing windows follow North Carolina‚s guidelines

for both size, and how they let sunlight in during the

winter, but not in the summer, thanks to the large eaves.

Rain-operated skylights, help create a passive airfl ow

during the spring and fall, when you can operate with-

out heat or air conditioning.

ACTIVE FEATURES

2KW Solargenix hot water system. Th is uses a conven-

tional 80 gallon hot water heater with a heat exchanger.

Th ere are two, 1kw panels on the roof. Th is provides

~75% of the hot water needs. In the summertime, the

water in the tank reaches 160 degrees, and is tempered

down to the fi xtures. Th is means that full hot baths

and long showers, if you wish, are easy. In practice, we

NEVER run out of solar hot water in the summer, un-

less there are more than 3 days of cloudy weather. It

is backed up and supplemented by electric.

2kw Solar Panels. Th ere are 40, 50w panels made

by BP, whose output is sold directly to Progress

energy, and in turn, to NC Greenpower. We receive

~ $25-30 dollars a year from Progress, and ~$300-

$350 from NC Greenpower. If the power goes out,

the inverter will automatically power the Sub-Panel and keep critical loads running, without any user

intervention. Th e system should provide power for

3-4 days, more with conservation.

Whole House fan. Th is thing really works to pull in the

cool night air and cool down the house, especially the

brick fl oor. It essentially „recharges‰ the fl oor for the next

day.

Almost all of the lights in the house are Compact Flores-

cent, putting minimal heat and using perhaps 20% of the

electricity of a conventional home. It uses 650 watts to

light the ENTIRE house!

OTHER UNIQUE FEATURES

? Cedar siding

? Hurd windows

? Powered blower on fi replace

? Curved Cherry windowsills

? Cherry and Douglas fi r Balcony railing

? 4 Acres of very private land. Cannot see any

other homes, can see back-properties horses in

the winter

? Great tasting water

? An abundance of wildlife - Deer (many on the

property year-round) Hawk, Owl, Fox, Turkey,

Whippoorwill, etc.

Great location

? 10 minutes to Pittsboro

? 7 minutes to Beaver Creek commons shopping

? 20 minutes to Durham

? 25 minutes to Raleigh

? 25 minutes to Chapel Hill

? Back Roads to RTP

? 6 minutes to 540 interchange when complete

? Walk to Jordan Lake though the woods (neigh-

bors property - they don‚t mind!) Views:

Woods