| Solar-Geo Home in Davis, CA Frequently Asked Questions |
What is Solar-Geo? Plenty of homes have photovoltaic panels, and some have geothermal. But 633 Amherst is a unique combination of both clean energies. Since the owners had already completed similar projects, they remodeled the fifty-year old home to combine solar photovoltaic electricity generation with geothermal ground-source heat pump technologies. The WaterFurnace geothermal system uses the renewable energy source in the earth to heat and cool the home, instead of gas and electricity. The system provides cleaner indoor air quality than combustion of fossil fuels by using the Earth and Sun as the energy source. How does the geothermal ground source heat pump work? Water is pumped in a closed loop to four 50 foot deep wells, located 10' apart in the front yard. This water circulates to the two Water Furnace units. These are water-based heat pumps that convert energy in the loop water into air that is pushed into the house by fans (similar to standard HVAC). But where is the gas service? There is no natural gas service to the heating units. The source of energy is the Earth. (Note: the house has natural gas service to the water heater and cook top). But where is the condensor unit? Why is it so quiet? The Water Furnaces do not use refrigerant. The source of cooling is the Earth. No refrigerant lines, no need for noisy condensors. Fewer moving parts. Less maintenance. Exactly how much energy does a Solar-Geo house use? It depends. The bills for the first six years of service averaged $1200-$1800 per year, or $100-$150 per month. That is for gas and electricity. Actual bills will vary depend on use pattern. We had four occupants and an office with computers, printers and other equipment. Utility companies expect rates to average a 4% annual increase. Is the Solar-Geo home LEED Certified? No. Although the design of 633 Amherst utilized many of the principles included in LEED, the redesign predates LEED for Homes. Joel Swift, AIA, the designer is a LEED Accredited Professional. If this is such a great idea, why don't more people do it? Good question. No, actually there are thousands of GSHP installations worldwide. These include homes, schools, businesses and dormitories. In Davis, the La Rue Housing on the UCD campus uses GSHP. 633 Amherst is a true Davis home, designed by a Davis native architect with an emphasis on bright sunny spaces,comfort and sustainability. For more information on the design concepts and resources utilized at 633 Amherst Drive, contact the Architect, Joel T. Swift, AIA at jtswift@swiftplan.com . More Questions about the Home What's with the bump-out at the front of the house? The appliance garages are getting new doors to match the cherry stain on the cabinets. We used them to get some of the clutter off the granite counters - bread maker, cuisinart, stand mixers, platters. The kinds of things you need but not everyday. Tell us more about the remodel... Any remodel carries character that comes from the oroginal layout. In this case we were working with a 50-year-old notion of a kitchen - a narrow galley style layout. The front room was added in recognition of the kitchen as the busiest part of a house and since in actuality everyone tends to gather in the kitchen, we thought it made sense to add the seating area. The old kitchen (we call it the galley) afforded a lot of storage, bar space, and snack space for kids of all ages to grab-and-go. The living/dining room has open natural light, and opens up to the back porch. The sun porch gets a lot of us at all times of the year, and intentionally opens up from the bedroom wing. The master bedroom was intentionally set back in it's own "suite" for privacy with a separate patio towards the fruit trees in the garden. So, if the house is so great, why are you leaving it? I received a commission that required us to relocate and our plan is to do something similar in our new location - recycle an old house in a great neighborhood, bring it up to 21st Century standards, and include smart technologies such as PV and GSHP. |
