U.S. Green Home
"Green Homes" have always existed. You just needed to look for them. When I was the Director of The Energy House in the early 1980's I had the good fortune to visit examples of other model green homes around the country. Although most of those model projects have closed their doors, you will probably find other examples near you. Poke around for green, solar or energy tours offered in your area. National tours are usually offered every year in October. Check out www.homes-across-america.org for more sample green homes.
Sample Green Home
The Haven-Richlin Residence, Philadelphia, PA
General Information
Building details: Single family residence created from gut-rehab of a
1895 stone carriage house
~2,700 square feet including lower level.
Renovation ongoing
Fuel type: All electric home with a solar assist
Annual fuel: Electricity use: 450Kwh forR-meter + 510Kwh
forOP-meter = 960 avg. Kwh per month
or ~ 11,520Kwhper year, ~$1,200 per year total for all utlities
Sun free!
Recycled lumber, moldings and details from original carriage house
Recycled stone and brick for walls, walks and driveway
Recycled plant material: Hundreds of perennials, 9 shrubs and 22 trees
Recycled carpeting, Water-based paints, Composting and digesting
Renewable eucalyptus flooring in the dining room and kitchen
Adjustable low-flow shower head and Toto low flush toilets
Ceramic laundry discs instead of detergent for more than 10 years now
Solar Features:
Evacuated tube solar domestic hot water system with Rheem 80 gallon solar
tank
Passive Solar design with south facing glass and large eves for summer
shading
Sunspace with stone and concrete mass, Day lighting into basement, PV
activated pump for fish pond
High Performance Features:
Air-tight construction: .6 (cfm/sf) @ 50(pa)
R-30 to 35 attic insulation (urethane spray-on foam and extruded polystyrene)
R-19 to 22 wall insulation (various combinations of fiberglass, cellulose and
extruded polystyrene)
R-11 basement insulation (urethane spray-on foam)
High efficiency Vermont Castings wood stove
Lenox 14-SEER scroll-style Heat Pump
Amana refrigerator (1.5 Kwh per day)
Bosch “Energy Star” dishwasher
Horizontal axis “Energy Star” washer and dryer
Whole house fan for summer cooling
Toyota Prius hybrid car
(Rheem solar hot water tank in the laundry room closet)
