House Specifications
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Detailed Specifications: Location: SE Minnesota, ~15 miles SW of La Crosse, WI |
Links to Journal Entries of Interest: Rubble Trench Foundation: Excavation, Installation Part I, Installation Part II |
Heating Specifications
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The active solar heating system heats an insulated sand bed located beneath the floor of the house. It approximately takes 12 hours for the heat to travel through the sand bed into the floor. Unfortunately the sun doesn't always shine—especially during the months of November and December. During cloudy periods, the house is heated by a wood burning soapstone stove. As backup, an electric boiler is used to supply radiant floor heat in the event that no one is present to stoke the stove. The electric boiler is tied to the local utility's off-peak rate program. |
Detailed Specifications: Active Solar Heating System: Passive Solar Heating System: Wood Stove Electric Boiler: (2) 4.5kW elements, ~30,000 Btu/hr. Domestic Hot Water: 80 gallon solar storage tank, Aquastar 125S |
Links to Journal Entries of Interest: Active Solar Heating: Sand bed Part I, Sand bed Part II, Collectors Part I, Frames, System Diagrams |
Solar Electric Specifications
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Our solar electric system has been in operation since June of 2004 and if estimations prove correct, will provide enough power on an annual basis to meet our annual electrical demand. Updates will be given periodically on the Day Creek Journal as to the status of our net-zero goal. |
Detailed Specifications: System type: Batteryless, grid-tied PV system Photovoltaics Balance of System
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Links to Journal Entries of Interest: Frame Construction: Breaking Ground , Racks |