Renewable energy begins with conservation. Sun Powered Homes advises using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). These may significantly reduce the amount of energy needed for your home's heating and cooling by as much as 50 percent. You will create better overall air tightness as well as a quieter environment, thus producing the best possible home envelope.

       Another type of conservation involves passive solar design, which plays an important role in climate control of the home. Considerations for a well-designed "passive" solar home consist of window orientation, roof overhang, landscaping, and placement of thermal mass. When conserving energy with regard to lighting, it is best to use fluorescent, compact fluorescent (CFL), and light emitting diode (LED) fixtures. Appliances must always be Energy Star qualified. All renewable energy homes must also have a load calculation (see link to form) to show the potential energy usage; this is done by assessing every electrical device in the home.

       Now that you have reduced your energy needs, it is time to decide how much remaining energy you want to offset by being a private power producer. A site evaluation is paramount in deciding what renewable resources are available. Sun Powered Homes is an Energy Star partner and will build homes at least as efficient as their standards.

       Our show home in Ellensburg, WA is not only Energy Star rated but also meets the Zero Energy Home requirements by combining state-of-the-art, energy efficient construction techniques with renewable energy systems to reward its owner with net zero energy consumption.



Insulated Concrete Forms

The combination of high R-values, low air infiltration, and high thermal mass is believed to account for 25% to 50% energy savings of ICF versus wood or steel-framed homes.

Structual Insulated Panels

In comparing a 5 1/2" thick SIPs wall with 2x4 and 2x6 traditionally framed walls, the SIPs significantly outperforms 2x4 stud walls and also outperforms 2x6 stud walls. A 5 1/2" SIPs have better whole wall R-value than 2x6 batt insulated construction partly because a 2x6 has an R-value of 4.

Overall Air Tightness

The solid insulation of these systems will reduce air infiltration. Since these homes are very airtight they may require a mechanical ventilation system in order to maintain good indoor air quality. A heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) is often the best choice to conserve the home’s solar heat. An HRV takes heat from the departing indoor air and transfers this heat to the entering outdoor air.

Quieter Enviroment

The solid insulation of SIPs and ICFs allow less than one-third as much sound to pass through as do ordinary frame walls filled with fiberglass.

Passive Solar Design

Passive solar design provides cooling and heating to keep the home comfortable without the use of mechanical equipment, such as pumps, fans, or electrical controls to move the solar heat. By utilizing this design it keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Considerations for a well-designed "passive" solar home consist of window orientation, roof overhang, landscaping, and placement of thermal mass.

Compact Flourescent Lighting

An Energy Star qualified CFL uses 66 percent less energy than a standard incandescent bulb and last up to 10 times longer. According to Energy Star, if every household in the U.S. replaced one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified CFL, it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road.

Fixtures

Lighting fixtures that have earned the Energy Star rating combine high performance, attractive design, and highest levels of energy efficiency, so they save energy and help protect the environment. Energy Star qualified fixtures also distribute the light more efficiently and evenly than standard fixtures. By using an Energy Star fixture, you will not need to change the bulb for at least seven years.

Appliances

These appliances are selected not only because they are energy efficient, but the clothes and dishwashers use much less water as well. For example, an Energy Star qualified clothes washer will use 18-25 gallons of water compared to standard washer using 40 gallons of water. They also use 50 percent less energy than a standard washer. Energy Star qualified dishwashers use 25 percent less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption and it can save you more than $25 a year in energy costs. Energy Star qualified refrigerators require about half as much energy as models manufactured before 1993 and 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001. In order to improve energy efficiency, they use high efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms.

Load Calculation

This needs to take into consideration not only the amount of power a device uses but the amount of time it is used during the day and how many times it is used within a week. Once this is done honestly it can be checked against your last 12 power bills and you can establish how much power your existing and new homes use.

Site Evaluation

This evaluation must include, in addition to assessing the physical resources, an understanding of covenants, conditions & restrictions (CC&Rs) that run with the land and local building and planning restrictions.