Location: Harvard, MA, United States.

Architect: Paul Lukez Architecture.

The house, completed in 2018, is situated on a gentle rural landscape and has been carefully designed to optimize energy generation from the sun while providing scenic views of the surroundings. The house generates 21,000 KW/Hr. annually using 56 LG photovoltaic solar panels and storing excess energy in two 16kWh batteries made by Sonnen GMBH. The battery system stores surplus energy generated during the day for use in the evenings and to power the resident’s Chevrolet Bolt electric car vehicle. The house is largely independent of the Grid and heating and cooling are provided by a ducted mini-split system. The house has been designed using passive design strategies, such as south-facing windows that flood the interiors with natural light and wintertime heat, deep roof overhangs that prevent overheating in the summertime, open floor plans and high ceilings that enable natural ventilation, and triple-glazed windows, 30 cm thick insulated walls, and low-infiltration detailing that optimizes heat retention in the winter. A wood pellet stove provides supplemental heating for extremely cold days. This house is an energy-plus prototype that demonstrates that homes in the US can generate more energy than they need while addressing energy intermittency. The house’s energy network generates 21,000 KW/Hr. annually using 56 LG photovoltaic solar panels. Excess energy is stored in two 16kWh batteries made by Sonnen GMBH. The battery system stores surplus energy generated during the day for use in the evenings. Additional surplus energy is stored to power the resident’s Chevrolet Bolt electric car vehicle. Heating and cooling are provided by a ducted mini-split system. The house is largely independent of the Grid.

Photo credit: Greg Premru.