DOE Tour of Zero: Eastford Farm Bungalow by Paul Torcellini
Photos
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Paul Torcellini built this 3,597-square-foot home in Eastford, Connecticut, to the performance criteria of the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) program.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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The majority of windows face south to take advantage of free solar heat.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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Taking advantage of a sloping lot, the builder constructed a daylight basement that provides living space and garages without increasing the home’s footprint.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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A 9.4-kW solar-photovoltaic electric generating system and a high-performance thermal envelope consisting of double-stud walls filled with 12 inches (R-52) of dense-packed fiberglass insulation plus an unvented roof insulated along the underside with dense-packed R-60 to R-80 fiberglass helped provide combined energy cost savings of $5,470 compared to a similar-sized home built to the 2009 IECC.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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In the kitchen, an ENERGY STAR-rated refrigerator was installed.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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This home meets the requirements of the EPA Indoor airPLUS program, including the use of low- or no-VOC wood products, primer, paint, cabinets, and flooring to minimize the air contaminants.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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An ultra-efficient air–to-water heat pump provides hot water for radiant in-floor heating and for domestic hot water. A highly efficient (SEER 26) ductless heat pump provides supplemental cooling as needed.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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A centrally located 80-gallon storage tank holds hot water from the air-to-water heat pump.
Photo courtesy of Paul Torcellini
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These inverters convert the direct current electricity produced by the solar electric system to alternating current. The house is wired with emergency circuits that tie into the inverters for power, refrigeration, and lighting during utility power outages.