SOLAR TOUR 2004 WASHTENAW COUNTY Tour Information

The Bicycle Solar Tour (no fossil fuels used!), new this year, is a tested route of 8 selected sites within Ann Arbor, a general map of which is included here. Starting at Ann Arbor Library's Mallet's Creek Branch at 10 am, bicyclists will ride together at a comfortable pace to each site, visit each site for about a half-hour, and ride on to the next site, ending at University of Michigan Art & Architecture Building at about 3-4 pm. No cyclist will be left behind! A trailer will be available at the Art & Architecture Building for transporting your bicycle back to the Mallett's Creek Branch Library if you wish. Food and water will be available at the beginning of the tour, at the Dana Building on central campus, and at the end of the tour. If it is raining, plastic bags will be on hand for saddles and shoes (though dressing appropriately is recommended). Jack VanDyke, and perhaps others, will lead the Bicycle Solar Tour.

• First to the many home and building owners for their willingness to open their homes & buildings for a public tour, for their efforts to help educate others about renewable energy and sustainable building otions, and for their commitment to take the extra steps to GO SOLAR! This tour is only possible because of their efforts.
  
  
• To the businesses making contributions of food and other items:
  • Big City Small World Bakery (500 Miller Ave. at Spring St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 668-7688) for donations of home-made baked goods.
  • People's Food Co-op (216 N. 4th Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 994-9174. Web: http://www.peoplesfood.coop) for donations of food.
  • Whole Foods Market (3135 Washtenaw Ave. at Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 975-4500. Web: http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/annarbor) for donations of food.
    
  • Arbor Springs Water Co., Inc. (1440 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
    Ph: (734) 668-8270. Web: http://www.arborspringswater.com) for donations of water and the loan of water coolers.
  • Arbor Farms Natural Foods Market (2103 W. Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Ph: (734) 996-8111. Web: http://arborfarms.com) for generalized donations.
    
  • Arbor Brewing Company (114 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Ph: (734) 213-1393. Web: http://arborbrewing.com) for generalized donations.
  • Two Wheel Tango (3162 Packard Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Phone: (734) 528-3030. Web: http://www.twowheeltango.com) for their sponsorship of the Bicycle Tour.
  
  
  
• To Barry McKay and the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources for web services, and
  
  
• To the other organizations and individuals contributing their help in promoting this tour:
  • Marshall Labadie - Sustainable Washtenaw (Web: http://planning.ewashtenaw.org/sustainable_washtenaw)
  • WEMU Radio -- FM 89.1. (Ph: (734) 487-2229. Web: http://www.wemu.org)
  • and many others!
  
  

These four starting sites will have guides available with directions to other sites. (Go to one of these sites first)

	Residential building
	Institutional building: public or commercial site

	Passive solar heating or lighting (“daylighting”) design
	Photovoltaic solar electric system
	Solar hot water or hot air system
	Other green or sustainable building elements

	New construction: solar/green features were designed into the original building
	Retrofit: solar/green were added to an existing building

On the bike tour, which starts at Mallett's Creek Library and visits nine sites

1. Mallett’s Creek Branch, Ann Arbor Public Library, 3090 East Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor 48108
   Features: A new library branch utilizing passive solar heating and lighting, convective cooling and radiant floor heating. Vegetated roof and bioswales are used to manage rain runoff. Green building materials used. Music at 10:00 AM. Guided tours at 11:00 AM, 12:00 Noon & 1:00 PM. ONE OF FOUR SITES WITH TOUR DIRECTORIES, YOU MUST GO TO ONE OF THESE SITES FIRST.
   
   
2. Leslie Science Center’s Nature House, 1831 Traver Blvd., Ann Arbor 48105.
   Features: A fully integrated super-insulated 1700-square foot solar building utilizing a range of passive and active solar technologies including solar photovoltaic, hot water and hot air systems, waste-heat recovery systems, water conservation systems (including composting toilets, and gray-water processing systems). Natural and “green” building materials used. ONE OF FOUR SITES WITH TOUR DIRECTORIES, YOU MUST GO TO ONE OF THESE SITES FIRST.
   
   
3. Recycle Ann Arbor’s En-House Resource Center, 2420 South Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor 48103.
   Features: An educational center demonstrating photovoltaic, energy efficient, and “green” and natural building material technologies. ONE OF FOUR SITES WITH TOUR DIRECTORIES, YOU MUST GO TO ONE OF THESE SITES FIRST.
   
   
4. Main Branch, Ypsilanti District Library, 229 West Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti
   ONE OF FOUR SITES WITH TOUR DIRECTORIES, YOU MUST GO TO ONE OF THESE SITES FIRST.
   
   
5. Private Residence
   Features: Owner-installed standalone photovoltaic electric system powering super energy-efficient refrigerator and other appliances, and tankless water heater
   
   
6. Private Residence
   Features: Newer high-efficiency solar hot water system. Additional solar technology exhibited but not installed. Kitchen addition using green building principles.
   
   
7. Hei Wa House Cooperative.
   Features: Solar hot water system, owner-installed photovoltaic system, energy efficient appliances, and social approaches to energy efficiency.
   
   
8. Dana Building.
   Features: Retrofit including photovoltaic system, use of recycled and recyclable building materials, Efforts to reuse and recycle construction waste. Improved air quality, water conservation, and solar lighting.
   
   
9. Art and Architecture Building.
   Features: MISO Michigan Solar Home design project including model and drawings for national solar homes competition. Michigan Solar Car, and four person human powered vehicle displays
   
   
10. Ann Arbor Huron High School, Ann Arbor, MI Features: Grid-tied (no batteries) photovoltaic array on an active tracker pole mount (moves to follow the sun), with inverter and data-logging system for student access to performance data.
    
    
11. Private Residence with its own related website
    Features: 1999 very energy-efficient house (5-Star) with passive solar gain and heat storage, radiant floor heating, owner-installed solar hot-water system, natural materials, and native landscaping. Owner has performance data on solar system and house.
    
    
12. Great Oak and Sunward Cohousing,
    Features: Energy-efficient construction with some passive solar, day-lighting, and “green” finishes, these are designed as “sustainable communities” with many shared resources reducing the per capita consumption of energy and material resources significantly. Cooperative activities are encouraged, site landscaping consists of native plants. Guided tours at 11:00 AM, 12:00 Noon, 1:00PM & 2:00 PM.
    
    
13. Private Residence
    Features: Low-budget, passive solar retrofit of an existing building using re-used building materials. Radiant floor heating, intensive insulation strategies, and rain-water catchments also displayed.
    
    
14. Private Residence
    Features: Grid-tied, ground-mount photovoltaic array, providing “green” electricity to the home and utility grid. Some native plantings.
    
    
15. First Unitarian Universalist Church
    Features: Church addition with good green building rating including passive solar heating and lighting, high-efficiency heating and cooling system, and low-impact building materials used.
    
    
16. Private Residence
    Features: Solar thermal panels provide active solar heating and cooling, a solar porch add on made from reclaimed materials provides passive solar gain. Also, on site water treatment and high efficency appliances.
    
    
17. Private Residence
    Features: Passive and active solar space heating, strategic use of deciduous trees and energy efficient design.
    
    
18. Private Residence
    Features: small residential site with passive solar heating and high-efficiency boiler with radiant floor heat and energy-efficient design. THIS SITE IS OPEN FOR LIMITED HOURS. OPEN ONLY FROM 12:00 NOON UNTILL 4:00 PM
    
    
19. Washtenaw Affordable Housing Corporation Residence
    Features: Low cost four bedroom home including passive solar heat and light, energy efficient lighting and photovoltaic roof shingles. Guided tours at frequent intervals anticipate a short wait for start of tour. THIS SITE IS OPEN FOR LIMITED HOURS. OPEN ONLY FROM 12:00 NOON UNTILL 4:00 PM.
    
    
20. Future Private Residence: Rural
    Features: Strawbale vegetable stand and the foundation for a residential strawbale house. Both buildings include passive solar design.
    
    
21. Mechanical Energy Systems, 8130 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, MI 48187.
    Features: Showroom for a local retail business selling and installing solar and other heating and cooling equipment. This business has Solatube skylights, solar hot air space heating systems, solar pool heating systems, solar hot water heating systems, solar attic ventilators, and photovoltaic systems.
    
    
22. Marshall Building, Eastern Michigan University
    Features: Solar lighting with reduced electricity used for lighting. Use of "green material" finishes, with excellent signage explaining the materials.
    
    

menu     map


1. Mallett’s Creek Branch, Ann Arbor Public Library, 3090 East Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor 48108

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features/description:
   The Mallett’s Creek Library first opened in January 2004. This 14,000-square foot building was designed with south windows adjacent to a dark floor to maximize solar gain in the winter with awnings to reduce summer heat. Windows also provide maximum lighting in all seasons. Daylight sensors monitor natural light and reduce electricity use. Automated floor level and upper windows allow cool air to enter low and replace warmer air. The heating system for the building operates through radiant floor heating which utilizes a network of hot-water pipes underneath the building rather than a forced air system.
   
   A vegetative roof has 3.5-feet depth and is planted with various species of sedum to filter water and control run off Bioswales planted with native plants allow storm water to be held on site and absorbed as ground water. The Bioswales have built in monitoring catch basins that are part of an EPA grant assessing effects of filtration systems.
   
   Many materials used in this building were selected on the bases of recycled content, recyclables, fuel consumption in production and delivery. Of particular note is the use of cork flooring in the central walkway. Because of its durability and acoustical properties cork has been used as a traditional floor in libraries for over 100 years.
   
   Site Location: 3090 East Eisenhower Parkway, Ann Arbor 48108
   
   Site Contact Info: Website: http://www.aadl.org.
   
   Directions: Just off of Stone School Rd on Eisenhower Pkwy. Turning towards Ypsilanti from Stone School the building is on the south side of the street (to the right) parking is just past the Library building on Eisenhower.
   
   Site staff: Josie Parker will lead formal tours at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM & 1:00 PM
   

   ---

menu     map


2. Leslie Science Center’s Nature House, 1831 Traver Blvd., Ann Arbor 48105.

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features/description:
   The Nature House is a fully functional integrated solar building. It was designed and built from the outset to demonstrate and educate about environmentally sensitive building practices and the use of solar energy to displace fossil-fuel energy. This 1,700-square foot super-insulated classroom building has more than three-quarters of its energy needs provided by renewable energy sources.
   
   The solar-related features that can be seen here include:
   • passive solar heating, with a “trombe wall” and with appropriate glazings, thermal mass placement, insulation, air-tightness and roof overhangs to effectively absorb and store heat from the sun’s rays during the colder months, while absorbing little heat during the warmer months,
   • “passive” ventilation that functions on the natural movements of warm air,
   • a solar hot-water heating system that utilizes a super-insulated “never-leak” tank for hot-water storage,
   • a unique solar hot-air heating system integrated with a photovoltaic array mounted in the roof, and
   • two different types of photovoltaic panels integrated into the roof: one 2,000-watt array of 40 Cadmium-Telluride photovoltaic modules, and one 2,048-watt array of amorphous-silicon solar modules. These charge a battery storage bank and provide electricity to power the building through a “grid-intertied” 5500-watt inverter. The inverter automatically and transparently allows the building to use solar-generated electricity when it is available, and seamlessly switches to utility-grid supplied electricity when necessary.
   
   
   Besides the direct solar-related design features, many eco-features have been used here that support the functionality of the solar system by reducing the building’s need for additional energy. These include:
   • waste-heat recovery systems,
   • radiant-floor backup heating system with high-efficiency natural-gas “boiler”,
   • catalytic combustion device integrated into the fireplace, and
   • high-efficiency appliances and lights.
   
   
   Additional eco-features reduce the building’s impact on the environment further:
   • composting toilets reduce water consumption, and avoid polluting water with compostable wastes,
   • gray-water filtration bed cleans sink wastewater so that it can be used for garden irrigation,
   • water-conserving fixtures minimize the amount of potable water needed,
   • rainwater is collected from the roof in cisterns for garden irrigation,
   • many different natural and recycled-content materials have been used in the building’s construction
   
   
   The Leslie Science Center Nature House is a “must-see” for those wishing to see and feel many solar and/or eco-fnendly building features integrated together in a functioning home-sized building!
   
   Site Location: 1831 Traver Rd., Ann Arbor, Ml 48105.
   
   Site Contact Info: Website: http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/Parks/LeslieScience/leslie_main.html which is the same as http://www.a2gov.org/Parks/LeslieScience/leslie_main.html.
   
   Directions: Toward the north end of Ann Arbor, the Leslie Science Center is on Traver Rd, just north of Barton Drive and David Ct. LSC’s driveway is the first driveway on the west side of Traver as you go north past David Ct. Parking is available in the parking lot east of the buildings or along the side of driveway if the parking lot is full.
   
   Site staff: Wayne Appleyard, Architect, as tour guide, plus Leslie Science Center and/or additional volunteers facilitating registration and other tasks.

   ---

menu     map


3. Recycle Ann Arbor’s En-House Resource Center, 2420 South Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor 48103.

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features / description:
   The En-House Resource Center offers visitors a first hand look at the materials, designs, and strategies used in “green” buildings. Constructed inside of the ReUse Center resale shop, the En-House was built using locally available, recycled content, energy-efficient, natural, durable, and/or “healthy” building materials.
   
   The demonstration center features a wide assortment of displays outlining environmental, energy, and health issues related to homes and buildings. The house is powered partially by photovoltaic panels. These are “building-integrated” into a simulated metal roof, and generate power for a “standalone” system that uses batteries to provide power for appliances through an inverter. This “Solar Energy” demonstration discusses the system, advocates the use of solar equipment, and explains the solar-electric process. The “Mad Air” air distribution display outlines the importance of controlling the flow of air into and throughout buildings. Reducing one’s impact on the environment through lifestyle choices is the focus of the ”Ecological Footprint.” The various aspects of Energy-Star Homes including insulation, advanced air-sealing, and high-efficiency windows and doors are demonstrated and discussed in the “Energy Efficiency” room. The “green” building materials “Petting Zoo” allows visitors to learn about and locate locally available materials.
   
   The En-House has a good library of information about “green building” and is an excellent source for education and information about many aspects of building or retrofitting a “greener” home. For the tour it will be staffed for questions and answers, but the En-house is also open during regular ReUse Center hours (see below).
   
   Site Location: 2420 South lndustrial Highway, Ann Arbor, Ml 48104.
   
   Site Contact Info: Website: http://www.recycleannarbor.org, Phone: (734) 662-6288 (M – F: 10 - 6; Sat: 9 - 5).
   
   Directions: In the south end of Ann Arbor, En-House is on South Industrial between East Stadium Blvd. and East Eisenhower, on the west side of South Industrial, inside of the Recycle Ann Arbor ReUse Center. Parking available in the ReUse Center lot.
   
   Site staff: TBA

   ---

menu     map


4. Main Branch, Ypsilanti District Library, 229 West Michigan Ave, Ypsilanti

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features/description:
   This represents a low-budget green-minded retrofit on an existing building, with a pressing need to preserve its historic integrity.
   
   Adding insulation to the structure was concentrated on the roof, where it would have the greatest effect, both to keep the heat in during the winter, and the heat out during the summer. The basement floor was covered with Interface carpet squares, which are long-lasting, easily replaced and can be sent back to the factory for recycling.
   
   There were several aspects to improving air quality. Ventilation was added to the structure, bringing in a moderated supply of fresh air. Non-toxic finishes were used whenever possible and leaded paint was carefully abated through the design process.
   
   Site Location: 229 West Michigan Ave. Ypsilanti MI
   
   Site Contact Info: Website: http://www.ypsilibrary.org/index2.html, Phone: (734) 482-4110 ext. 1385
   
   Directions: On Michigan Ave. and Adams. between Adams & Washington on the south side of the street. Parking off of Adams in back of the library.
   
   Site staff: TBA

   ---

menu     map


5. Private Residence

   
   
   
   

   
   
   Site features / description:
   This home uses an owner-built standalone photovoltaic system to charge a battery-based energy storage system, and provide power for a super high-efficiency refrigerator I freezer and other appliances. The panels are a 500-watt roof-mounted adjustable array utilizing amorphous modules because of the occasional shading from the trees. The appliances are powered directly from the battery storage bank or through DC-to-DC voltage converters, and include computers, cell phones and lighting. This home is also utilizing a water-heating tank to capture any excess solar power after the batteries have reached full charge. The water then is brought up to the desired usage temperature with a high-efficiency tankless (“on-demand”) gas water heater. This home is an excellent example of an owner-built solar-electric “retrofit,” without the use of an expensive and energy-consuming inverter.

   ---

menu     map


6. Private Residence

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features / description:
   The solar hot water system is a newer high efficiency system. The collector consists of 30 Evacuated Heat Pipe tubes, vacuum tube collectors. These well-engineered tubes provide good cold weather performance. The copper feed pipe to the hot water heater passes through a tank of water heated by the Thermomax system. When there is a lack of solar energy water is heated with a flash water heater. Instead of a traditional tank type heater, a tankless or flash water heaters heat water on demand. If the solar storage tank has hot water the flash water heater doesn’t need to come on. If the water is partially heated, the flash water heater has less of a temperature rise so the burners will only have to add partial heat. Design includes a two-pump system, which shuts off the high head pump once the water has been initially lifted to the roof where the collectors are mounted. At that point a smaller pump takes over to continue circulating the water.
   
   Other solar elements displayed at this site but not installed on the structure are a set of solar hot air collectors, Uni-Solar PV Shingles, and a small heat pipe tube that demonstrates the technology on the roof.
   
   The kitchen is a green building project in process. The custom-built in cabinets are primarily made up of “wheat board”, or “agri-board” which uses agricultural products and low-VOC adhesives rather than traditional mdf. The face frames and doors are made of urban reclaimed maple rather than hardwoods harvested from the forest. Low-VOC finishes were used. Insulation was added and an old aluminum frame window was replaced with a triple pane casement window that has an R-value around 6. Energy Star appliances were installed.

   ---

menu     map


7. Hei Wa House Cooperative.

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features / description:
   The solar hot water system—installed in 1981 and upgraded in 2001—is a typical closed-loop antifreeze solar system. It consists of two 4ft x 8ft plastic glazed copper roof-mounted hot water absorption panels, two pumps, a thermostatic control unit, an external heat exchanger and an 80-gallon insulated heat storage tank. The circulating system is filled with a glycol/water antifreeze mix for protection against freezing damage. When the thermostat control unit detects a higher temperature in the panels than in the heat storage tanks, the pumps are activated. One pump circulates the antifreeze mix, carrying the heat from the panels to the heat exchanger. The second pump circulates water from the heat storage tank through the heat exchanger to carry the heat to the tank. This system preheats hot water for household use. A conventional gas hot water heater provides additional heat when necessary. During summer month natural gas needs are reduced.
   
   The 392-watt Photovoltaic system demonstrates both crystalline and amorphous solar modules on adjustable roof-mount racks. It is a low voltage battery-based system with an older inverter. The batteries on this system are presently not functioning. This system shows some of the problems small PV systems can encounter.
   
   Within the house, Energy Star appliances have been chosen including a “solar compatible” Staber washing machine. High efficiency lighting including LED porch light is also displayed.
   
   The house is a cooperative. Shared space and shared meals reduces resource use. Shared resources allow for implementation of efficiency practices.
   
   The site is the home for a car co-op, a car share program that reduces resource use by allowing up to ten individuals to share coordinated access to a single car. The car co-op program just started this summer and is still looking for members.

   ---

menu     map


8. Dana Building.

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features / description:
   The "Greening of Dana" was a $25 million dollar renovation. The project promoted sustainability, reduced negative health impacts, and now the building serves as a laboratory and educational center for ecological themes. The renovated S.T. Dana Building balances two critical facets: the building is a comfortable place to learn and work, and it simultaneously demonstrates state-of-the-art environmentally conscious design. This building teaches environmental sensitivity, respect and awareness through its design and resource management. It demonstrates the potential effectiveness of these principles, and how transferable they are to other building situations.
   
   Goals of the Greening of Dana Project:
   
   • Energy conservation and efficiency
   • Use of renewable energy (photovoltaics)
   • Increased daylight use
   • Improved indoor air quality
   • Water conservation
   • Inclusion of operation costs in selecting mechanical equipment
   • Material efficiency, increased recycled content/recycleability of building materials
   • Life-cycle-based evaluation of environmental impacts
   • Maximum reuse and recycling of components and materials from demolition

   ---

menu     map


9. Art and Architecture Building.

   
   
   
   

   
   Site features / description:
   Visit these two web sites for more information about the Michigan Solar House (MISO) and the Michigan Solar Car: http://www.umich.edu/~miso/ and http://www.engin.umich.edu/solarcar/.

   ---

menu     map


10. Ann Arbor Huron High School, Ann Arbor, MI

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    A 768-watt amorphous-silicon (12 Uni-solar 64-watt panels) PV array “tracks” the sun and is “tied” into the grid, feeding electricity into the building wiring without batteries. The panels are mounted using a Wattsun dual-axis tracking system, which maximizes PV output by keeping the PV array pointed at the sun as the sun travels across the sky from sunrise to sunset and as the sun changes altitude from summer to winter. A SunnyBoy inverter is used to convert the panel’s DC output to 110-volt AC for use at the school. The system provides approximately 3 kW-hrs of electricity on an average day (4 hours of sunlight). This is an excellent example of a “tracking” solar mount, and a grid-tied system.
    
    A data acquisition system measures the system’s output, solar insolation (amount of sunlight), and temperatures to allow Huron High students to evaluate the operation of the tracker-mounted solar panels and the grid-tied inverter. Within the month, live and archived data from this solar system should be on the web for all to access and observe. Once functional, one access point for the Huron High solar data will be http://monitor.fatspaniel.com and click on Huron High School link.
    
    Site location: 2727 Fuller Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105, on the hillside at the north end of the football field.
    
    Directions: At the northeast corner of Ann Arbor, Huron High School is accessed from Fuller Rd., just west of Huron Parkway. Turn into the Huron High School entrance from Fuller Rd, and then follow the drive to the right. Go straight over several speed bumps to the parking area adjacent to the football field/track on the southeast side of the school building. Park there and enter the fenced area through a gate south of the bleachers. Turn left and walk past the bleachers to the base of the PV pole.
    
    Site staff: David Wright, co-designer/installer.

    ---

menu     map


11. Private Residence with its own related website

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    Designed by Ann Arbor architect Wayne Appleyard of Sunstructures Architects, and built by Calvin C. Hoeft Building Inc. of Dexter, this house has many energy conservation, passive and active solar features and received a 5-Star Home Energy Rating when it was completed in late 1999. This house uses 60% less energy than a house built to 1992 Model Energy Codes, with energy bills averaging about $100/month for gas and electricity combined, for 3800 sq. ft. of conditioned space. (The owner keeps careful track of energy consumption!)
    
    The house has a due south orientation with fiberglass-framed triple-glazed, argon gas-filled low-e "superwindows." Most of the window area is on the south side and these windows use "northern" low-e coatings which transmit solar energy, while the east, west, and north windows use "southern" low-e which blocks solar energy to minimize heat gain, and thereby cooling loads, in the summer. A “Trombe wall” (heat mass on the south side of the house) made of concrete and finished on the interior in granite and slate has a “selective surface” coating on the exterior which absorbs 95% of incident solar energy while losing only 5%.
    
    The walls are 2X6 construction placed 24" on center (to minimize lumber use) with an additional 1" rigid foam on the outside. Using damp-spray cellulose insulation, the walls achieve about R-28 insulating value. The ceiling is R-60 with blown-in cellulose insulation. The entire basement slab is insulated underneath and around the edges with 1" rigid foam, and the interior basement walls are studded and insulated with fiberglass batts with about R-13 insulating value. The house has been professionally sealed for air leakage around windows, doors, framing, and all exterior penetrations, to minimize air leakage.
    
    The basement slab and master bathroom are hydronically heated (radiant-floor), with “PEX-C” plastic tubing used to circulate hot water through the floor in these areas. The rest of the house is heated with forced air, but all hydronic heat, forced air heat, and domestic hot water is supplied by one high-efficiency gas-fired boiler-based heating unit. A heat recovery device placed in the main drain pipe recovers waste heat (from e.g. showers) and pre-heats the cold water before it goes to the boiler; about 60% of hot water waste heat is recovered in this way. A heat recovery ventilator (HRV) brings fresh air into the house and sends stale air outside, while recovering about 80% of the heat in the process. A whole-house fan with insulated cover is used in the summer months to improve ventilation in the house, and the attic has two gable vents to keep the attic air temperature down. Asphalt roof shingles are light in color to reduce heat gain.
    
    In early 2004, a solar hot water and space heating system was added using six recycled flat-plate thermal collectors from a previous industrial installation in Ann Arbor. This system provides 100% of the hot water needs from April to October and should deliver a 30% reduction in the yearly natural gas usage.
    
    Appliances are all energy efficient, selected from the DOE list of EnergyStar Appliances. The clothes washer is front loader to reduce water usage. The clothes dryer and cook top are gas fired, and the light bulbs are fluorescent, to reduce electricity usage. Two skylights, placed on the north side of the house to minimize heat gain, provide natural light and reduce artificial lighting needs. Three ceiling fans circulate air to improve comfort levels.
    
    Natural materials are used to a large extent: flooring is quartersawn white oak along with slate and ceramic tile; carpeting is only used in the three bedrooms. Kitchen and bath countertops are granite; kitchen cabinets are mission style white oak. Exterior porches and decks are made with a recycled waste-cedar/plastic product, which needs no staining, or preserving and will not rot, split or warp. Landscaping includes a 2500 sq. ft. native prairie incorporating storm water runoff retention, as well as an orchard of heirloom apples, cherries, pear, and peach trees.

    ---

menu     map


12. Great Oak and Sunward Cohousing,

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features I description:
    “Cohousing” incorporates shared facilities into a clustered housing development. Sunward and Great Oak are the first and second cohousing developments in Michigan. The layout on the site creates a pedestrian community where people have to get out of their car and walk to their homes. This increases interpersonal interaction while limiting the impact of the automobile on the site. Each of the homes was built to high energy-efficiency standards (R-20 walls and R-50 ceilings) and includes passive solar features where the site layout allowed. All units have 90%+ efficient furnaces. Homes are clustered into townhouses in order to increase energy efficiency while increasing the amount of open land on the site. Several acres of native prairie have been planted to foster natural ecosystems while reducing mowed turf grass to a minimum.
    
    The Common House includes a variety of group activity spaces (childcare, game, media, laundry, offices, guestrooms) as well as a large dining room (with commercial kitchen) where residents eat meals several nights each week that are prepared by other residents. There will be a workshop where tools can be shared and group projects can be worked on. All of these facilities make it possible to reduce the size of the individual housing units.
    
    Although the homes and Common Houses in both Great Oak and Sunward incorporate many “green” architectural features (energy efficiency, passive solar heating and lighting, sustainable finishes like bamboo, etc.) their most sustainable feature may be its being designed as a sustainable community where resources are shared, personal interaction is cherished and the natural environment is honored.
    
    Specific features of Great Oak: These homes were factory-built allowing for tighter construction while reducing building material waste. The units sit on energy-efficient, pre-cast foundations that provide warm and dry usable space and use less than half the concrete of a standard foundation. Since Portland cement is responsible for 9% of the global warming (CO2) gases (because of energy used in its production), reducing its usage in building is good for the environment. Also, by building the housing as townhouses with common walls, their energy consumption has been greatly reduced. One of the units has an owner-installed photovoltaic system, and roofs, where possible, face south for future solar installations.
    
    Specific features of Sunward:
    The upper levels of the of the units on the south side of the pedestrian way are moved to the south side (rear) of the units to maximize sunlight access for passive solar heating and lighting for these units. The front is only one story high to allow solar heat and daylight into the north side homes whose second story is on the front facing south. Sunward is the first cohousing community completed in Michigan, designed by Sunstructures Architects.

    ---

menu     map


13. Private Residence

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    This residential site demonstrates a low-budget, passive solar retrofit of an existing building. This largely owner-build addition incorporates radiant floor heat, set in a thick thermal mass slab floor, well-insulated walls and ceilings. The addition includes a writing studio and a guest room with two twin beds and a small bathroom with shower.
    
    Facing almost due south, a large sliding glass door and window were installed along the south side. No windows were placed on the north side, in order to minimize heat loss during the winter months. Insulating shades provide relief from glare, insulate against external heat and noise, as well as reduce winter heat loss. The windows and doors were “orphans” from building supply stores, and thus were obtained cheaply.
    
    For summer cooling, ceiling fans and windows designed to catch the breeze were installed. Along the exterior, trellises with vines block the summer heat.
    
    The walls include an inner and outer 2 x 4 wall with off-set studs to double the insulation and to decrease the amount of thermal bridging, especially during the winter. The ceiling uses the existing 2 x 6 joists with fiberglass, but this is topped with 2 sheets of rigid foam insulation, salvaged from a commercial re-roofing job site.
    
    The radiant floor system is in a loop, with a low-toxicity antifreeze added to protect the pipes in case of power outage. A 20-watt pump powers the system. There is also a bathroom, heated by a tankless water heater.
    
    Rainwater from the roof is collected in a 1,500-gallon tank and used to water a nearby organic vegetable garden and fruit trees.

    ---

menu     map


14. Private Residence

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    This residence has had an adjustable ground-mount, grid-tied, 1600-watt poly-crystalline photovoltaic solar array added to the home. This is the first residential grid-tied (battery-less) photovoltaic system in our area. It sells excess electricity (beyond what the house is consuming when the sun is shining) to the utility company (DTE Energy). Because it has no batteries, this is a virtually maintenance-free system.
    
    The sixteen 100-watt PV modules are mounted as two independent arrays, each one feeding its own grid-tied inverter mounted underneath the arrays. The inverters then produce grid-quality electricity, which is fed into the residential electric circuits through wiring to the barn. A kilowatt-hour meter in the barn gives the owner data about how much power has been generated by the solar system, and a separate DTE-supplied meter mounted at the service entrance to the house records how much “green” electricity has been sold to the utility company. In order to increase the output of the PV arrays, the owner can easily and quickly change the angle of the solar panels up to four times per year to better match the angle of the sun’s rays. This is an excellent example of how easy a solar system can be to maintain. Also, being ground-mounted, one can easily examine the panels, the mounts, and the inverters. An additional eco-feature of the site is the native plant landscaping the owner has implemented.

    ---

menu     map


15. First Unitarian Universalist Church

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    The Religious Education Wing of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Ann Arbor had a design target derived from the LEEDTM Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council. By self-evaluation, the church believes it has achieved the equivalence of a LEED rating of 36 points or just 3 points short of the Gold level.
    
    Some passive solar heating and solar lighting is integrated in to the building design. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system has a theoretical energy demand of 50% of the current standard. Nonetheless the building meets the state requirements for education buildings. The HVAC design allows for verification of system performance. No use of ozone depleting refrigerants.
    
    Green building materials were used extensively. Selection criteria for exterior and interior materials, included minimum lifetime energy requirements and environmental impacts and maximum use of recycled material or materials easily recycled.  Suppliers within 500 miles were chosen when feasible.

    ---

menu     map


16. Private Residence

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    This house constructed in 1954 has a long east-west axis, allowing for ample southern glazing and solar thermal gain. To the north the roof pitches down to minimize exposure to the cold winds. The west is protected from the winds by the garage and has few windows to prevent overheating. The east opens to the sun for morning heat gain and light for the bedrooms. A black panel solar thermal array provides 30% of the heat and protects the house in the summer, almost eliminating the need for air-conditioning. The panels trap the sun’s heat, while a thermostatic electric fan pulls air through the array and into the house.
    
    A solar porch addition on the second floor was constructed with reclaimed windows from Recycle Ann Arbor and seconds from Fingerle Lumber. Serving the double function of trapping the sun’s heat in the winter and providing a buffer in the summer, porch is controlled by a thermostatic electric fan. Much of the remodeling included reclaimed materials.
    
    Backyard Habitat certified with the National Wildlife Federation. Organic garden onsite. Due to unfavorable conditions, conventional septic systems were not suitable. The Advatex system creates a mini-waste water treatment plant in a small plastic box buried near the septic tanks, the system produces nearly potable water that can be discharged in a shallow trench drain field.
    
    high efficiency appliances, lights, and mechanical systems have been installed.

    ---

menu     map


17. Private Residence

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    This residence was designed in 1977 to minimize heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. The first goal is easily accomplished, since the site is covered with large deciduous trees, which shade the house from east, west, and south.
    
    The house utilizes a large two story solarium oriented due southeast, as a solar heat collector. When leaves fall, the solarium overheats in sunlight. A fan located adjacent to the house furnace, pulls the heated air from the solarium to the return air plenum and turns on the furnace fan. The heated air is distributed throughout the house. The result is nearly 50% reduction in gas consumption.

    ---

menu     map


18. Private Residence

    
    
    
    

    Site features / description
    This small residence was designed to be efficient and sustainable in its use of materials as well as energy. The home utilizes some passive solar components, but is primarily heated with radiant heat from a small high efficiency boiler. The massive walls and metal roof, orientation and cross ventilation minimize the need for cooling. Sustainable materials include the masonry walls, stained and polished concrete floors, wood beams and decking, and metal roof panels. Built in 1996, the cost of construction was $165,000. THIS SITE IS OPEN FOR LIMMITED HOURS. OPEN ONLY FROM 12:00 NOON UNTILL 4:00PM

    ---

menu     map


19. Washtenaw Affordable Housing Corporation Residence

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    The building costs were very low at about $ 109,000, not including photovoltaic system and land. The 1,456 sq ft floor area includes a combined  living/dining room and four bedrooms, all with south oriented windows, a kitchen and two bath rooms. It was built in two 14 x 56 ft modular units and shipped to the site from Bay City, MI. A small entry hall serves as an air-lock. It has a full, 9 ft high basement.
    
    Insulation: R-5 foam board under basement slab, R-32 concrete foundation as foam block insulation formwork, R-16 2x6 exterior walls with fiberglass insulation. R-2 glazing in south windows to enhance solar absorption, all other windows with R-3 low-e argon glazing. Storm doors. Overhang provides partial shading in summer (adjustable awnings could not be installed because of cost consideration). Low infiltration at 0.32 air changes per hour (blower tested). All light fixture are fluorescent in residential fixtures. High energy efficient refrigerator. 82 percent high efficiency gas boiler for radiant heating and 0.56 energy factor domestic water heater.
    
    The 2 kW maximum output photovoltaic system provides on a yearly basis around 65 percent of the electrical energy. Recent monthly electricity bills for the eight person household were in the $ 26 range. The Uni Solar roof shingle system has an energy efficiency of around 6 percent and is backed up by batteries, to be replaced when net-metering becomes available. The system was paid through a State of Michigan energy development grant and represents a value of about $ 25,000. It was installed on the roof at the plant of the General Housing Corporation, Bay City, MI.
    
    The home, built in 1999, won one of the Five Star Energy Rating Awards, State of Michigan.

    ---

menu     map


20. Future Private Residence: Rural

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    The vegetable stand demonstrates the insulative advantages of strawbale construction. This round building was built in 2001 around a metal corncrib frame with earth plaster exterior. It was built to demonstrate natural building techniques.
    
    The residential building is the first strawbale house approved by Washtenaw county. Although the house will only have a foundation this year it is planned as a 2000-square foot house with a full basement. The house will have a southern exposure to take advantage of passive solar heating. The building will also have radiant floor heating. Drawings and a model will be on site as well as information about strawbale construction, earth plasters, and how to get permitting. This owner-designed building is expected to cost around $120,000.

    ---

menu     map


21. Mechanical Energy Systems, 8130 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, MI 48187.

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    This is the showroom and business location for a retail business that has been selling, installing and servicing solar hot-water, hot-air, and pool-heating systems for decades. The showroom demonstrates “day lighting” the office with Solatube Skylights, a SolarWall space heating assistant (hot air system) tied into high-efficiency heating and cooling system, and office operations powered by a photovoltaic system. They also sell and install solar attic ventilators, solar retrofit systems to promote energy conservation in residential and commercial buildings, and photovoltaic systems. Mechanical Energy Systems is a licensed heating and cooling contractor.
    
    Site Location: 8130 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton, MI 48187.
    
    Site Contact Info: Website: http://www.by-solar.com. Phone: (800) BY-SOLAR (= 297-6527), local phone: (734) 453-6746. (M-F: 8:30am - 4:30pm; Sat: 10 - 4 on Oct 2nd for the tour, otherwise by appointment only.) Email: .
    
    Directions: On the north end of Canton, it is located ½ mile south of Joy Road on the east side of Canton Center Rd. Parking is located at the front, side and, back of the building.
    
    Site staff: Joe and Donna Napolitano, owners and operators of the business.

    ---

menu     map


22. Marshall Building, Eastern Michigan University

    
    
    
    

    
    Site features / description:
    This building uses day lighting to reduce the electric lighting bills and “green” building materials for its interior finishes and furnishings.
    
    The two story atrium running through the building diagonally admits a lot of natural light, and photosensors dim down the electric lighting in areas that are receiving a lot of natural light automatically, so the light levels remain constant throughout the building with minimal use of electric lights. Care must be taken to control direct sunlight through skylights, or they can add to the air-conditioning loads in the summer.
    
    All of the "green" building products selected for this building are featured in signs adjacent to the products which explain the green features that they were selected for, so occupants can educate themselves.

    ---