James Bouler, RA, AIA - Nicholas Pfluger, Associate
12 Doxsee Pl. Islip, NY 11751 | ph:631.969.3335 | fx:631.969.3391
Checklist for Living Machine Alternative Energy Systems
The Living Machine home features several renewable energy systems which provide viable options for the energy needs of the home. The home will be energy efficient with less reliance on fossil fuels.
Electrical energy for the home is provided by 8,000 watts of solar photovoltaic cells located on the south roof surfaces. They are building integrated and laminated directly onto the roof slate in an aesthetically pleasing package. They feature mono-crystal silicon cells that are among the most efficient in production today. An additional 3,400 watts of solar electric panels is placed on a trellis on the south side of the house. These panels are transparent PV laminates, and allow light to pass through them onto the patio below. Together these panels can meet 75% of the home’s annual electric demand. All solar panels carry 25 year warranties and have a life expectancy exceeding 50 years.
Top-of-the-market inverters convert the solar electricity into a form usable by everyday appliances and devices. Inverters are self-starting and maintenance free.
A back-up UPS system stores excess energy from the solar panels into sealed, gel-cell, maintenance free batteries with 30 year life expectancies. The UPS allows the home to be grid independent by coordinating the solar panels, batteries and back-up BioDiesel generator with the home’s electrical needs.
A back-up, 50 kW Kohler Biodiesel Generator provides for the remaining 25% percent of the home’s electric needs. The generator runs on clean burning B100 Bio-Fuel, made from soybeans. It is environmentally safe and non-toxic.
The home’s heating and cooling needs are provided for by a two geothermal heat pumps, with a total capacity of 6.5 tons. The geothermal heat pumps use groundwater as a heat source and sink, as opposed to ambient air used by a conventional heat pump (they are 40% to 60% more efficient than a conventional heat pump.). Heat pumps can extract three times the electrical energy input from the groundwater to heat and cool the home. Electrical energy for the heat pumps is provided by the solar PV system. Desuperheaters feed excess heat from the HVAC system to the domestic hotwater tanks.
The domestic hot water needs can be provided by building integrated solar collectors that store the sun’s energy into two 120-gallon domestic water tanks. The collectors consist of pex tubing that is located under the south roofing shingles (solar panels). The collectors are not visible and are built into the roof. This system could provide 90% of the home’s annual hot water needs; during cloudy periods an electric back-up heater handles domestic water heating.
Homes can be heated through passive solar design in winter months. The south elevations of homes feature many large windows with low-E glass. Heat gain is desirable during winter months, but is blocked during summer months by roof overhangs. Much of the heating during the winter can be achieved through passive solar means.
Foundation walls feature frost line insulation - R-10 insulation boards are run on exterior of Foundation walls from grade to four feet below grade (extent of frost line). Additional insulation lines exposed area of foundation wall on inside. Allows basement to stay 55 F year-round by utilizing the constant temperature of the earth below the frost line.
Radiant floor heating under garage slab, for snow melting and heating of garage area.
Wide use of Structural Steel allows for wide open spaces and large spans on first floor and basement.
Homes will possess exceptional structural integrity based on the climate. Reinforced load bearing areas, with plates and squash blocks ensure structural integrity. Simpson HDQ-8 holdowns, the heaviest hurricane holdown Simpson offers, are used in many of our waterfront homes.
Mission Statement
