Solar Home Tour

by Joel Barkman, NVBIA Fauquier County Chapter President

In an effort to relieve the burden of rising energy costs some homeowners and builders are taking advantage of energy-efficiency tax credit provisions to construct homes that include photovoltaic panels to produce electricity and hot water- at prices competitive with more traditional homes in the market.

By installing renewable energy systems combined with Energy Star-rated appliances, lighting and other features, homes are being built to be at least 60% more energy-efficient than conventional homes.

The federal housing rescue package includes a number of tax incentives that help to make high performance homes more competitively priced in today's challenging market - with today's more discriminating buyer.

In Florida for example, where the state and local utilities are getting involved, a 2-kilowatt photovoltaic system costs the builder about $14,000, but there is an $8,000 credit available from the state and a $2,000 credit from the federal government. The solar water heater costs $2,000, but the builder gets a $1,500 tax credit.

Unfortunately we have to go out of state for a cost effective example because unlike Maryland and DC, currently Virginia, nor the county, nor the utility providers are providing incentives that will make these systems as cost effective for the "average" homeowner. Worth mentioning, but perhaps a topic for another day.

Meanwhile, federal incentives enable the home buyer to get back 30% of the total outlay - and an additional $450 from the local utility company for the water heater. "When you add it all up, it's almost a wash for us," a Florida builder said. "Out of pocket, it's $2,500 to $4,000 per home, depending on the size of the home."

My team and I constructed a high performance home that the Democrat's own Bill Walsh featured in an article last August - unfortunately before the updated and much improved federal tax incentives were put into place.

At the time, tax credits were not worth much more than $2,000. Today tax credits for the same solar hot water and geothermal heating and cooling system would be worth $24,000. Nonetheless, homeowners Richard Linsday, owner of MowCow Lawn & Landscape and his wife Cindy Smith, a George Mason University professor are proud of their "solar" home. According to them building a home with conservation in mind is "the right thing to do."

The "farmhouse" styled home in Nokesville will be the first home on this weekend's 19th Annual Tour of Solar Homes and Buildings. To visit the home or to find out more about the tour visit www.soartour.org.

Those touring the house will be especially interested in its geothermal heat pump and photovoltaic roof panels for the hot water system.

The 5,000-square-foot custom home's passive-solar design features large south-facing, Energy Star-rated windows and glass doors to collect wintertime sunshine and overhangs sized for shading the windows from the high summer sun while tubular skylights minimize the need for indoor lighting.

Additionally, the homes' building envelope contributes to its energy efficiency. Spray foam was used in the walls and attic to insulate and seal the entire structure from outside air and pollutants.

The home's other green features include low-flow faucets, native landscaping, low-VOC paints, and recycled countertops. In addition, construction waste was recycled off-site and the house was constructed using advanced framing techniques to conserve materials and finished using sustainable products - products that have a prolonged life and/or needing little to no maintenance.

The home is certified by EarthCraft of Virginia, a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthier, more comfortable homes and also by the voluntary federal Energy Star for Homes program through Commonwealth Sustainability Works, a local green building consultant and home rater.

As the area's first home to meet the U.S. Department of Energy Builders Challenge, a program geared toward the construction of zero-energy buildings, the house received a HERS rating of 56, making it an extremely energy-efficient home.

Tour goers will also enjoy the many "universal design" features of the home. Extra wide hallways, no-step entries, wheelchair ramps, flush thresholds, "accessible" baths and grab bars make the home more comfortable for occupants of all ages and conditions.

For a guided tour just "Ask a Builder." Otherwise visit www.solartour.org for home locations and tour information.

I would also like to invite everyone to join me this Saturday, October 3rd at the annual Country Fair / Auctions to support the Youth for Tomorrow. The event is located at the YFT Campus, 11835 Hazel Circle Drive in Bristow. It always proves to be a fun day for the whole family. For more information call 877-YFT-4KIDS.

As always e-mail your questions and comments to joel@goldenrulebuilders.com or write to "Ask a Builder" at P.O. box 294, Catlett, VA 20119

Barkman is president of the Fauquier Chapter of The Northern Virginia Building Industry Association.

Read Joel's column weekly in the