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Abstract
The objectives of this research project are (1) to show how the sustainable resources of forest biomass, solar energy, harvested rainwater, and small-diameter logs can be integrated to a system that provides most or all of the energy and water needs of a typical cold climate residential household, and (2) to effectively interpret the results and convey the sustainable potential to the public. This project validates that (1) the combination of the BioMax® wood-pellet energy system (5 kW peak) with grid interconnected solar energy via photovoltaics (4 kW) can provide the majority of the power needs for a residential unit in a cold climate; (2) rainwater can be stored in a 2,500-gallon cistern and reliably filtered and disinfected for potable use; (3) systems to product and save energy and water are safe and reliable; and (4) these technologies are available and work well in cold climates similar to the project’s location in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Keywords
Integrated design,
passive solar,
active solar,
rainwater harvesting,
photovoltaic,
PV,
ecological houses,
house design,
house construction,
buildings,
energy conservation,
renewable energy sources,
sustainable buildings,
building design,
building construction,
water harvesting,
roundwood,
small-diameter timber,
smallwood
Citation
Yoklic, Martin; Knaebe, Mark; Martinson, Karen. 2010. Integrating net-zero energy and high-performance green building technologies into contemporary housing in a cold climate. General Technical Report FPL-GTR-193. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 2010: 13 p.
