Eco-Homes
Presentation & Book
Signing
(Snow date: February 29)
Building
a new home is a complex
process to manage, but what about building an eco-friendly and energy
efficient
home? Karann & Jeremy Schaller did just that – earning 2nd
place
in the Connecticut Zero Energy Home Challenge. During the first half of
this
program, Karann will discuss the details of her house and share her
experience
of building and living in the home. Topics will include:
.
. . Passive solar house heating
.
. . Solar electric panels for
household electricity
.
. . Solar thermal panels for house
heating and domestic hot water
.
. . Solar heat collected and stored
for seasonal use
.
. . Walls constructed with highly
efficient Structural Insulated Panels
.
. . ENERGY STAR Certification
.
. . Construction costs ½ of
traditional custom built homes
.
. . Creative finishing details using
salvaged materials
During
the second half of the program, Everett Barber will discuss his book, Convert Your Home to Solar Energy,
(co-authored with Joseph R. Provey). A definitive homeowner’s guide to
solar
energy, it covers all the relevant technologies, including solar space
and
water heating, as well as photovoltaic electricity. It’s a practical
resource, with
cost calculators, tips on taking advantage of rebates and tax
incentives, and
advice on finding specialized contractors.