Black River Falls (5/7/2009)
The GreenMax Home, the region's first owner-designed and occupied net zero energy home (NZEH), has quickly generated interest for community members and renewable energy enthusiasts. Homeowners Tom and Verona Chambers are opening the doors to their NZEH and hosting public tours with WPPI Energy to showcase the energy-efficient construction and sustainable energy systems that make their Black River Falls home unique.
With grant funding from WPPI Energy's GreenMax Home initiative, the Chambers' designed and constructed an all-electric NZEH, which they completed in spring 2009. Through careful planning and research, the Chambers worked to refine their home's design to control energy use, ultimately advancing the status of their home from highly efficient to net zero.
Together WPPI Energy and the Chambers will host three opportunities for interested participants to tour and learn more about the special features of their NZEH. The tours are open to the public; however, participants are encouraged to schedule a tour in advance for one of the following dates:
- Saturday, May 16 from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 13 from 1 to 5 p.m. in conjunction with the Black River Falls Memorial Hospital Fundraiser
- Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in conjunction with the Solar Tour of Homes and Public Power Week
To schedule a tour, visit
www.greenmaxhome.com/projects. Open to the public, the tours will take place at the site of the Chambers' NZEH. From the ground source heat pump to structural plumbing and the solar photovoltaic system, interested parties will learn about home energy use and renewable energy systems while getting a first-hand look at the state-of-the-art, energy-efficient construction techniques and features that make this NZEH so unique.
The Chambers have already begun to work with WPPI Energy to monitor and fine-tune their energy use and behavior to ensure they meet their net zero energy goal, a process that will continue for the next year. Now and in the future the Chambers will share their experiences with others in order to educate the general public about home energy use and improve awareness about the societal and environmental impacts of lifestyle choices.
"We cannot wait to see if we are going to be successful in our pursuit of net zero energy use in our house," said Verona Chambers. "Part of our greatest daily fun is watching the solar trackers move with the sun and checking the meter at the end of the day."
The Chambers' home is believed to be the first owner-designed and occupied NZEH that can be reasonably and affordably replicated in a cold-climate region.
WPPI Energy is the power supplier for 51 community-owned electric utilities in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Iowa. The GreenMax Home initiative is part of an overall commitment by WPPI Energy and its members to encourage the use of renewable energy, energy conservation and energy efficiency.
Contact:
Patty Schenker
tel: (608) 834-4598
email: pschenker@wppienergy.org
