General information Location: Maine, USA Sunshine hours (yearly average): - Type of project: Residential Type of application: BIPV Time for design process: 6 months Time for construction: 10 month Realization: - [ Top ] Description When Bill and Deborah Lord decided to retire to the coast of Maine, they knew they wanted a solar house. Their most pressing priorities were family and a sustainable future; the house had to comfortably accommodate regular visits from their children and grandchildren, as well as having a minimal environmental impact. This project represents an innovative integration of large area glass superstrate modules as the finished weathering skin of the house. As result of tight design and exceptional construction documents, there were neither functional nor technical issues. The home’s form and geometry are configured to present a generous amount of south-facing roof to the sun at an optimum angle to maximize solar harvest, Some 500 sq. ft. of selective-surfaced, solar thermal collectors share the south roof with 4,5 kiloWatts of photovoltaics. Both systems are roof-integrated to create a single, uniform, glass plane for the south roof. The direct current (DC) electricity produced by the PV array is converted to utility-quality alternating current (AC) by means of a utility-interactive DC-to-AC inverter. Solar power is then fed to the house via conventional circuit breakers in the main electrical distribution panel; the solar electric system is utility-interactive with the ability to export its surplus to the utility grid via a net metering arrangement with the local power company. The home also has a bank of batteries to draw upon for power when the utility fails. [ Top ] System characteristics PV system power: [-] kW Type of building integration: - Type of cell technology: Manufacturer: ASE Americas Module dimensions: - Array dimensions: - Inverters: Manufacturer: Trace [ Top ] Project cost breakdown The Lords spent ~15% over the cost of a typical house in their area for the solar and solar thermal systems. [ Top ] Performance characteristics The Lords are absolutely delighted with their house and the PV system produces a surplus of electricity on an annual basis, which they generously donate to the local power company. They've hosting several TV specials, interviewing for magazine articles and they maintain a website (www.solarhouse.com) full of information on all aspects of their house’s evolution, development, operating history and status. [ Top ] Project team Solar Design Associates served this project as both the architect and the engineer, designing the house and its support systems as an integrated effort. SDA also assisted in choosing the builder, Tim Spang, and worked with him on the details of solar construction and assisted in the installation of the solar and solar thermal arrays. Client: Bill and Deborah Lord Project architects: Solar Design Associates Engineers: Solar Design Associates Contractor: Spang Builders, Kennebunkport, Maine PV manufacture: ASE Americas, Billerica, Massachusetts [ Top ]