Once a year the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society hosts a tour for homeowners and businesses to showcase homes that have installed solar systems.
We spent all day in the car to get to two homes we really wanted to see.
The first stop was at 9329 Rachel Shores SW, Farwell, MN 56327
http://mnrenewables.org/node/1705
The home was designed by Wagner Zaun - and there's an article about it on Green Building Advisor.
It was great to walk around the home and experience the thick walls. They only had one window on the south side - and it provided all the solar gain the home needed. We liked the rounded edges on the drywall. There was a large geothermal system - which was interesting, but not something we plan to incorporate. The solar panels were mounted on tall poles to allow them to be adjusted. Van was a retired professor of biology and provided a handout sheet on the house. They have lived in it for four years and were impressed by the comfort of the house and very happy with the performance.
The second home was still under construction: 4719 Olson Lake Trail N, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
http://mnrenewables.org/node/1703
https://olsonlakehouse.wix.com/brink
This home is interesting to us because it is almost the same wall assembly - but it uses a layer of mineral wool on the outside of the entire wall. We decided that we didn't like what that did to the exterior window details and the complexity with the flashing. Mary Florence chose to use H Windows and Doors - they are one of the companies we are considering. She also told us about the "squirrel proofing" wire mesh wrap that was required because her panels were on the roof and it's a wooded setting. Apparently squirrels may get under the panels and chew on the wiring - it made us reconsider putting panels on the roof of the shed. The builder, Morissey, had also built the Passive House in the Woods in Hudson, WI. Mary Florence had been studying at Boston College Sustainable building design on-line courses for a number of users. She likes buildinggreencom and Home Power Magazine as sources of information. She used Distinctive Doors for utility doors. The basement floor was finished concrete honed to show the aggregate. The garage walls were just 2x4 with fiberglass bats. The garage walls was just the drywall, insulation, and siding - no vapor barrier/plastic. She chose Cambria countertops. Backer bars were installed at the toilets to allow for future placement of accessibility bars.
We had hoped to get to one more place - but ran out of time. Maybe we'll see it on next year's tour:
47399 Anchor Ave, Stanchfield, MN 55080
http://mnrenewables.org/node/1676
We spent all day in the car to get to two homes we really wanted to see.
The first stop was at 9329 Rachel Shores SW, Farwell, MN 56327
http://mnrenewables.org/node/1705
The home was designed by Wagner Zaun - and there's an article about it on Green Building Advisor.
It was great to walk around the home and experience the thick walls. They only had one window on the south side - and it provided all the solar gain the home needed. We liked the rounded edges on the drywall. There was a large geothermal system - which was interesting, but not something we plan to incorporate. The solar panels were mounted on tall poles to allow them to be adjusted. Van was a retired professor of biology and provided a handout sheet on the house. They have lived in it for four years and were impressed by the comfort of the house and very happy with the performance.
http://mnrenewables.org/node/1703
https://olsonlakehouse.wix.com/brink
This home is interesting to us because it is almost the same wall assembly - but it uses a layer of mineral wool on the outside of the entire wall. We decided that we didn't like what that did to the exterior window details and the complexity with the flashing. Mary Florence chose to use H Windows and Doors - they are one of the companies we are considering. She also told us about the "squirrel proofing" wire mesh wrap that was required because her panels were on the roof and it's a wooded setting. Apparently squirrels may get under the panels and chew on the wiring - it made us reconsider putting panels on the roof of the shed. The builder, Morissey, had also built the Passive House in the Woods in Hudson, WI. Mary Florence had been studying at Boston College Sustainable building design on-line courses for a number of users. She likes buildinggreencom and Home Power Magazine as sources of information. She used Distinctive Doors for utility doors. The basement floor was finished concrete honed to show the aggregate. The garage walls were just 2x4 with fiberglass bats. The garage walls was just the drywall, insulation, and siding - no vapor barrier/plastic. She chose Cambria countertops. Backer bars were installed at the toilets to allow for future placement of accessibility bars.
We had hoped to get to one more place - but ran out of time. Maybe we'll see it on next year's tour:
47399 Anchor Ave, Stanchfield, MN 55080
http://mnrenewables.org/node/1676