Dow Energy Solutions and Cobblestone Homes Create Affordable Green Residence

The Dow Chemical Company and Cobblestone Homes have introduced Michigan’s first, affordable net-zero energy home. Using readily available energy efficiency technologies from Dow, the house, dubbed the “Vision Zero” home is expected to save $3,507 in energy costs and avert 44,855 lbs of CO2 annually.

Although it looks like most homes, and it’s connected to the utility grid, a ZEH (Zero-Energy Home) is significantly different than other houses. Unlike other homes, over the course of a year, the ZEH produces about as much energy as it consumes. This “net-zero” consumption level is accomplished through the combination of energy-efficient construction and the home’s renewable energy technology.

Net-zero energy homes typically use about 60-70 percent less energy than a conventional home, with the balance of its energy needs supplied by renewable technologies. The Vision Zero home uses a wide range of Dow materials and sustainable technologies, including next generation insulation and air-sealing products, and the revolutionary new DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles. The solar components on this home, which includes a demonstration of Dow’s solar shingle, will produce enough energy to supply all of this home’s electricity needs plus additional electricity that can be sold back to the local utility company for energy credits.

Cobblestone has also incorporated a wide range of products from a number of other leading suppliers that will conserve energy or harness renewable resources to keep the Vision Zero home comfortable, while meeting the zero-energy threshold. The house uses geothermal heat pumps to heat and cool the home, solar water heating systems to provide hot water, as well as LED light bulbs and ultra-high efficiency appliances that can be found throughout the house. When you combine the energy efficient insulation materials, energy saving appliances, geothermal energy, and solar power, you get a net-zero energy home – a home that essentially sustains itself.

“For years, we’ve been a leading advocate for energy efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly homes here in Michigan,” said Mark Wahl, co-owner of Cobblestone Homes. “Our collaboration with Dow to build the Vision Zero home provides us with a unique opportunity to educate consumers and the industry about the attainability of net-zero energy homes. It will serve as a real-world example that net-zero is achievable, affordable and replicable, even in harsh Northern climates.”

The Vision Zero house, located in Bay City, Michigan, will also be an educational center for builders and consumers for one year, providing tours, training and hands on demonstrations.

• Dow Structural Insulated Sheathing (SIS) on exterior walls

• Enerworks Solar Panels for water heating

• Dow Closed Cell Rigid Spray Foam & Blown-in Cellulose inside attic

• Basement ERV System (Energy Recovery Ventilation System for mechanical ventilation)

• Greywater Heat Recovery Unit

• Dow Tongue & Groove Styrofoam (under basement floor)

• Dow Perimate Insulation (exterior basement wall board)

• Energy Efficient Lighting by Kichler and Juno (compact flourescent lighting throughout)

• Low-e Glass, paradigm triple pane w/krypton gas (on all windows)

• WaterFurnace Geothermal Heating & Cooling is buried in the earth, ground source heat pumps harness the earth’s constant temperature to heat in winter and cool in summer.

• Utility meter spins backwards when solar power exceeds house demand selling power back to the utility company

• Closed Cell Rigid Spray Foam inside wall cavity

• Tongue & Groove Styrofoam in exterior walls

• Thirty-inch overhang manages solar heat gain

• Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles

• Energy Generating Solar Panels made with Dow Corning components

Source: Cobblestone Homes

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July 14th, 2010 by signaltree
Posted in Architectual |
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